How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at Pan-American Life

Covers 9 insurance accounts — beneficiaries can be updated by phone

Pan-American Life

Subsidiary of Pan-American Life Insurance Group, Inc.

palig.com
Pan-American Life logo

Policyowner Services (Pan-American Life division)

Mailing Address

Pan-American Life Insurance Company, P.O. Box 9060, Oak Brook, IL 60522-9807

Policyowner Services
Headquarters (601 Poydras Street, New Orleans, LA 70130)
Accident & Health Division
Pan-American Private Client

Empathy -- bereavement support for beneficiaries of U.S. policies (provided at no cost)

Life Claims

Mailing Address

Pan-American Life Insurance Company, P.O. Box 9060, Oak Brook, IL 60522-9807

Accident & Health Claims
Verified Jul 2026

Estate planning with Pan-American Life policies centers on beneficiary designations—the single most important step for ensuring life insurance proceeds and annuity benefits reach the intended recipients without probate involvement. Unlike bank or brokerage accounts, insurance products are not retitled into trusts; instead, trusts are named as beneficiaries when estate tax planning or controlled distributions are needed.

Pan-American Life has 9 policies with different estate transfer rules. Here is how beneficiary designations, trust ownership, and probate apply to each one.

Horizon Legacy Single Premium Whole LifeHorizon Value Whole LifeHorizon Guarantee Whole LifeMTL Non-Par Whole LifeSelecTerm Term Life InsuranceVista Life Indexed Universal LifePan-American Life Accident InsurancePan-American Life Health InsurancePan-American Life Medicare Supplement
1
Call Pan-American Life Policyowner Services at 800-323-7320 (Monday-Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm CT), or email LifePolicyownerServices@palig.com to open the request
2
Give your policy number and identify yourself as the policyowner. Only the policyowner can change a beneficiary designation.
3
Ask Policyowner Services to send the change of beneficiary form for your policy. Pan-American Life does not post this form as a public download, so it is issued on request.
4
Complete, sign, date, and return the form; a beneficiary change is not effective until Pan-American Life records it

Required Documents

  • Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)

Special Requirements

  • Beneficiary changes are a paper process. The Online Policy Manager does not offer beneficiary self-service -- its published services are premium payment, loan repayment, and in-force illustration requests.
  • The change of beneficiary form is not published as a public download; request it from Policyowner Services at 800-323-7320 or LifePolicyownerServices@palig.com
  • Beneficiary designations override instructions in a will
  • Multiple primary and contingent beneficiaries can be designated, with percentage allocations totaling 100% for each tier
  • Only the policyowner can change beneficiary designations
  • Children under 18 cannot receive benefits directly; name a custodian or a trust instead
  • Online premium payment is not available for Vista Life indexed universal life policies
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust Editorial·

Sources

Data sourced from Pan-American Life primary sources (17 pages reviewed). How we research.

Download these Pan-American Life instructions

Download instructions for the whole estate

A printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against Pan-American Life primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.

Estate planning articles

Learn how to protect your Pan-American Life accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.

More estate planning resources

Explore related tools and documents to complete your estate plan.

How Much Does Probate Cost?

Estimate attorney fees, executor fees, court costs, and timeline for probating an estate in your state. See if the estate qualifies for simplified probate procedures.

Use Calculator

Who Inherits Without a Will?

Find out who inherits your estate and how much they get if you die without a will. Based on your state's intestate succession laws.

Use Calculator

How Much Are Estate & Inheritance Taxes?

Calculate federal estate tax, state estate tax (12 states + DC), and inheritance tax (5 states) for an estate or trust.

Use Calculator

What Does Estate Planning Actually Cost?

See the true cost of estate planning. Compare SimplyTrust, Trust & Will, LegalZoom, and attorneys including life events like marriage, divorce, and having children.

Compare Costs

How Much Does a Revocable Living Trust Cost?

Compare the cost of creating a revocable living trust. See how SimplyTrust, Trust & Will, LegalZoom, and attorneys compare over 5 years including life events.

Compare Costs

How Much Does a Will Cost?

Compare the cost of creating a will. See document costs plus probate fees your heirs will pay. Compare SimplyTrust, Trust & Will, LegalZoom, and attorneys.

Compare Costs