Steps To Take If You or a Family Member Dies

In the Case of Death, You or Your family member (whichever applies) Should …

Notify the Benefit Plans Office of the death. 

The Benefit Plans Office will assist you, or your appropriate family member, in processing any required/applicable documents for collecting (or continuing) your available benefits as a result of the death.   

Complete a life insurance claim form and special accident insurance claim form, if applicable.  Send the completed forms, along with a certified death certificate and other supporting information, to the Benefit Plans Office.

Convert any family special accident insurance coverage to a private policy within 30 days of your death if they wish to continue this coverage.

Convert spouse and dependent life insurance coverage to an individual policy within 31 days of your death.

Decide whether to continue medical and dental coverage.  Your spouse and other Eligible Dependents may elect to continue their medical coverage under the Company’s plan.  Their cost and the length of continuation will be based on the length of your full-time service at the time of your death.

If Your Spouse or Dependent Dies, You Should... 
Notify the Benefit Plans Office and complete a life insurance claim form, if applicable.

Complete a special accident insurance claim form if you are enrolled for family special accident insurance coverage and the death was accidental.  Send the completed form(s), along with a certified death certificate and other supporting information, to the Benefit Plans Office.

Change your medical (including prescription drugs and vision care), dental, flexible spending account, life, and special accident insurance elections within 30 days of the death, if coverage changes are appropriate.

Review your beneficiary elections for life and accident insurance and the Savings Program.

Remember, the employee assistance program is available if you or your family members need counseling.

What Happens to Your Benefits If You Die
Here is what happens to your benefits if you die:

Medical (Including Prescription Drugs
and Vision Care) and Dental
Your Eligible Dependents may elect to continue medical (including prescription drugs and vision care) and dental coverage for three months at the appropriate active employee contribution rate.  If you had less than 10 years of full-time service when you died and you were not eligible for a pension, or had more than 10 years of Company Service but you were not at least age 50 when you died, your eligible dependents may continue coverage after the initial three-month period for an additional 33 months through COBRA.  See the "Administrative Information" section for more information.

If you had at least 10 years of full-time service under the pension plan and were at least age 50 when you died, your Eligible Dependents may elect to continue coverage until your spouse reaches age 65 or remarries, whichever comes first.  In this case, the Eligible Dependent must pay any cost associated with the coverage.

If you had less than 10 years of full-time service under the pension plan when you died, and were age at least 50, your Eligible Dependents may elect to continue coverage until your spouse reaches age 65 or remarries, whichever comes first.  In this case, your Eligible Dependent must pay the full cost for the continued coverage.

See the “Medical Plan” section for more information.

Employee Assistance Program
Coverage ends.

Flexible Spending Accounts
Participation ends.  Dependents may submit claims for health care and dependent care expenses incurred before your death.  See the "Flexible Spending Accounts" section for eligible expenses.

Long Term Care
Your spouse may continue their coverage by making payments directly to the insurance company.

Life and Accident Insurance
Your beneficiary will receive the following benefits, depending on the coverage elected:

• basic life insurance benefit
• supplemental life insurance benefit
• business travel accident insurance benefit if you die while traveling on a Company business trip
• special accident insurance benefit if your death is the result of an accident.

Family special accident insurance coverage ends, but it may be converted to an individual policy.

Pension Plan
If you are vested, your surviving spouse/beneficiary will receive any survivor benefit.  The Benefit Plans Office will contact your beneficiary to provide information about any plan benefits that might be payable.

Savings Program
Your beneficiary may receive your full account balance in a lump sum.  However, if you were eligible to retire under the pension plan at the time of your death, your spousal beneficiary may choose either a lump-sum payment or monthly installment payments over a five-year period.  Your spousal beneficiary may also elect to defer payment until the latest date permitted by the tax laws.