What to do when a Physicians Mutual account holder dies
Contact Physicians Mutual — 4-step process, 5 required documents, and allow 7 to 10 business days for processing after all required claim information has been received. underwritten insurance policies do not have a waiting period before death benefits are paid, but there may be a contestability period. guaranteed issue policies may have a limited benefit period where full benefits are not payable for natural death during the first two to three years.
Phone1-800-228-9100
Mailing Address
Physicians Mutual Insurance Company, PO Box 3313, Omaha, NE 68103-0313
Medicare Supplement Sales
Alternate Customer Service
Claims Direct Line
Fraud Concerns
Corporate Office
WebsiteLearn more→
Phone1-800-228-9100
Mailing Address
Physicians Mutual Insurance Company, PO Box 3313, Omaha, NE 68103-0313
Medicare Supplement Sales
Alternate Customer Service
Claims Direct Line
Fraud Concerns
Corporate Office
WebsiteLearn more→
Life Insurance Claims
Phone1-800-228-9100
Fax(402) 633-1088
Mailing Address
Physicians Life Insurance Company, P.O. Box 2018, Omaha, NE 68103-2018
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Apr 2026
When an insured person dies, the beneficiary or executor should contact Physicians Mutual's Life Insurance Claims at 1-800-228-9100 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.
Physicians Mutual offers an online claims portal that makes the initial filing process more straightforward. Survivors can also initiate claims by phone or by mailing documentation directly.
Death claim process
To file a claim after an account holder's death, here is what Physicians Mutual requires:
Filing a claim
1
Gather required documents:
- Locate the Physicians Mutual or Physicians Life insurance policy documents and note the policy number
- Obtain multiple certified copies of the death certificate from the local vital records office
2
Initiate the claim:
- Call Physicians Mutual at 800-228-9100 to report the death
- Have the policy number and date of birth of the deceased ready when you call
- A representative will mail you the required death claim form or direct you to download it from the Customer Center
3
Complete the claim form:
- Download the Life Insurance Death Claim form (form PMA2859) from physiciansmutual.com/web/customer-center/forms if available
- Complete all sections of the claim form including claimant information and deceased information
- Submit a certified death certificate with the claim
- Provide government-issued photo ID for the beneficiary
- If a trust is the beneficiary, provide trust documents and trustee identification
4
Submit the completed claim package:
- Mail to: Physicians Life Insurance Company, P.O. Box 2018, Omaha, NE 68103-2018
- Or fax to: 402-633-1088
Required Documents
- Completed Life Insurance Death Claim form (form PMA2859)
- Certified death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for the beneficiary
- Policy number and deceased's information
- Trust documents and trustee ID (if a trust is the beneficiary)
Call 800-228-9100 to initiate the death claim process. Have the policy number and date of birth ready. Claim forms are available for download from the Customer Center or can be mailed to you upon request. For life insurance policies, claims are processed by Physicians Life Insurance Company. Guaranteed issue whole life policies may have a graded death benefit during the first two to three years, meaning accidental death only is covered during the initial waiting period. After the waiting period, the full death benefit applies.
Processing timelines at Physicians Mutual: Allow 7 to 10 business days for processing after all required claim information has been received. Underwritten insurance policies do not have a waiting period before death benefits are paid, but there may be a contestability period. Guaranteed issue policies may have a limited benefit period where full benefits are not payable for natural death during the first two to three years. Incomplete documentation is the most common cause of delays—submitting all required documents with the initial claim helps avoid additional processing time.
Documentation required by Physicians Mutual includes Completed Life Insurance Death Claim form (form PMA2859), Certified death certificate, and Government-issued photo ID for the beneficiary, along with additional paperwork that varies by account type. All death certificates and court documents must be certified copies.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. An ILIT can own a Physicians Life insurance policy, removing the death benefit from the grantor's taxable estate under IRC Section 2042. A new policy can be purchased by the ILIT from inception, or an existing policy can be transferred to the ILIT, subject to a three-year lookback rule under IRC Section 2035. Once transferred, the grantor permanently relinquishes all incidents of ownership. Contact Physicians Mutual at 800-228-9100 to request an assignment of ownership form. Physicians Mutual does not establish ILITs; you must work with an estate attorney to create one.
Physicians Mutual offers five life insurance products, all issued by Physicians Life Insurance Company. Term Life Insurance provides up to $50,000 of coverage for 10 or 20 year terms. High Benefit Term Life Insurance offers up to $250,000 of coverage (requires an agent and may require a medical exam). Whole Life Insurance provides up to $15,000 in guaranteed issue permanent coverage with no medical exam. Modified Whole Life Insurance offers up to $30,000 in guaranteed issue coverage with a two-year graded death benefit period. Children's Whole Life Insurance covers ages 14 days to 12 years with $5,000 to $10,000 of coverage that doubles at age 21. All life insurance policies can be assigned to an Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust (ILIT). Details at https://www.physiciansmutual.com/web/life.
Physicians Mutual's Life Insurance Claims can be reached by phone at 1-800-228-9100 and fax at (402) 633-1088 for questions throughout the claims process.
When the deceased had multiple Physicians Mutual policies, some may need separate claims while others can be handled together. The Life Insurance Claims can clarify what's needed for each account type.
Phone1-800-228-9100
Mailing Address
Physicians Mutual Insurance Company, PO Box 3313, Omaha, NE 68103-0313
Medicare Supplement Sales
Alternate Customer Service
Claims Direct Line
Fraud Concerns
Corporate Office
WebsiteLearn more→
Phone1-800-228-9100
Mailing Address
Physicians Mutual Insurance Company, PO Box 3313, Omaha, NE 68103-0313
Medicare Supplement Sales
Alternate Customer Service
Claims Direct Line
Fraud Concerns
Corporate Office
WebsiteLearn more→
Life Insurance Claims
Phone1-800-228-9100
Fax(402) 633-1088
Mailing Address
Physicians Life Insurance Company, P.O. Box 2018, Omaha, NE 68103-2018
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Apr 2026
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