What to do when a North American account holder dies
Report the death to North American's Life Claims at 1-800-733-2524
When an insured person dies, the beneficiary or executor should contact North American's Life Claims at 1-800-733-2524 to start the claims process. Insurance proceeds are paid directly to the named beneficiary and do not go through probate. How quickly the claim is processed depends on the policy type, documentation, and cause of death.
Death claim process
Follow these steps to file a death claim with North American:
Filing a claim
- Life claims: 800-733-2524, fax 877-841-6706, P.O. Box 5088, Sioux Falls, SD 57117
- Annuity claims: 877-880-6367, fax 877-586-0249, P.O. Box 14432, Des Moines, IA 50306-3432
- Life insurance: the combined O-2816-2 and O-2818-1
- Annuity: claimant statement 14497Z, listed on the annuity claim forms page
- Signatures must be wet signatures; electronic signatures are not accepted
- Forms with whiteout are not accepted: correct the error, then initial and date the change
- Mail: North American Company for Life and Health Insurance, Life Division, P.O. Box 5088, Sioux Falls, SD 57117
- Overnight: Life Division, One Sammons Plaza, Sioux Falls, SD 57193
- Fax: 877-841-6706
- Email: claims@sfgmembers.com (the life claims FAQ accepts documents by email)
- Mail: North American Company for Life and Health Insurance, P.O. Box 14432, Des Moines, IA 50306-3432
- Fax: 877-586-0249
Required Documents
- Death certificate, on a life claimIssued by the state where the death occurred, listing cause and manner of death. A copy is accepted if all claims total under $500,000 and the death was in the U.S.; North American may require an original.
- Death certificate, on an annuity claimIssued by the state where the death occurred, listing cause and manner of death. The claim letter says whether an original or a copy is required; an original is not returned.
- Claimant statementOne from each beneficiary. Life: the combined O-2816-2 and O-2818-1. Annuity: 14497Z.
- Certification of trust, if a trust is the beneficiaryLife: Certification of Trust Agreement (L-3172A). Annuity: Certification of trust (19306Z), or Certification of charitable trust (26742Z) for a charitable trust.
- Notarized Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Release (O-2797), if life proceeds payable to a trust are $250,000 or more
- Court certificate of appointment and the estate's own EIN, if proceeds are payable to the estate because no beneficiary was named or none survivedOn a life claim the executor or administrator completes the claimant statement and the estate needs its own EIN. On an annuity, the court certificate of appointment is required.
- Court certificate of appointment of the guardian of the estate, for a minor or incompetent beneficiary on a life claimThe guardian of the estate completes the claimant statement.
- Certificate of Power of Attorney, when an attorney-in-fact signs for a beneficiaryO-2876 on a life claim, 19656Z on an annuity.
- Affidavit of surviving children, when the beneficiary designation reads "surviving children"Life: a notarized Affidavit of Surviving Children (O-2794) from one surviving child. Annuity: 11734Z.
- Foreign death certificate, Foreign Death Questionnaire and Report of Death Abroad, if the death occurred outside the United StatesThe official death certificate from that country (an original certified one on a life claim), questionnaire O-2796 (life) or 14337Z (annuity), and a Report of Death of an American Citizen Abroad.
- Claimant's Statement Part II (O-2818-2) and HIPAA authorization (O-2722C), on a contestable life claim, or a life claim for a death outside the United StatesA contestable life claim also requires an original certified death certificate.
- Predeceased beneficiary's death certificate, or a business beneficiary's authorization, if a named beneficiary has died, or the beneficiary is a business, corporation or organizationA business beneficiary sends an authorized representative's original signature and a copy of the corporate resolution.
- Investigating officer's details and written statement, if the death was a homicideThe officer's name, address and phone number, and a written statement on whether the investigation is ongoing and whether the beneficiaries have been excluded as suspects.
- IRS Form W-4P, on an annuity claimListed among the general annuity claim requirements.
Claims Contact
Website: Online portal →
Forms North American issues3
- Life proof of death claimant's statement (combined O-2816-2 and O-2818-1)
Completed by each beneficiary. Available to download.1
- Certification of Trust Agreement (L-3172A), life policies
Available to download.2
- Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Release (O-2797)
Available to download. Must be notarized.3
What happens to each kind of account1
- Annuity
The annuity claim forms page lists spousal continuance as a claim path, with Spousal verification of identity (24443Z), Benefits rider spousal continuance (23850Z) and Spousal continuance (14765Z).4
Accounts handled elsewhere1
- North American Annuity Claims
Annuity death claims, with their own forms, phone, fax and mailing address5
Phone: 1-877-880-6367
Fax: 1-877-586-0249
Hours: Monday-Thursday 7:30 AM-5:00 PM CT; Friday 7:30 AM-12:30 PM CT
Mailing address: North American Company for Life and Health Insurance, P.O. Box 14432, Des Moines, IA 50306-3432
What North American's agreement and guidance say3
- How proceeds are paid
Section 4 of the life claimant statement offers lump sum by check, lump sum by ACH, lump sum into an Access Account (minimum $15,000), the Interest Option, the Installment Option and the Life Income Option. Any option but a check or ACH lump sum requires naming your own beneficiary.1
Elections made on the life claimant statement are a full and final settlement once proceeds have been processed. Under the Interest Option the proceeds are left on deposit at interest.1
On a life claim, a funeral home can be paid by assignment: the funeral home supplies a signed assignment form, each beneficiary signs, an itemized funeral bill is attached, and a separate check is mailed to the funeral home.5
- Payment to a minor or incapacitated beneficiary
On a life claim, if no legal guardianship is established for a minor beneficiary, North American holds the proceeds at interest until the minor reaches the age of majority.5
- Contestability of a recent policy
A life claim is contestable when the death occurred within the first two years of the policy contract date, reinstatement, increase of coverage or change of class. North American conducts a routine investigation, and the timeframe depends on the investigation.5
North American's processing goal is 10 calendar days after the final requirement is received, extended if additional review or documentation is required.
North American's Life Claims can be reached by phone at 1-800-733-2524, email at claims@sfgmembers.com, and fax at 1-877-841-6706 for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from North American primary sources (29 pages reviewed). How we research.
North American death claims support
Life Claims (Claims and Benefits Department)
Phone
Life claims — international calls
Annuity claims
Annuity claims — international calls
Fax
Hours
Mailing address
Website
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