Making a Life Claim

If you die, the proceeds will be paid to your beneficiary (or beneficiaries).

If no beneficiary designation has been made, insurance benefits are payable to the first surviving class of the classes below.

1.  Your Spouse. 
2.  Your children.
3.  Your parents.
4.  Your brothers and sisters.
5.  Your estate.

Should your spouse or child die, you are the beneficiary of their coverage.

You can designate a beneficiary or update your current beneficiary information in My Total Access: https://mytotalaccess.carilionclinic.org

If you die while you are employed by Carilion, your dependents may continue medical and dental coverage through COBRA for 36 months. Once your separation has been processed, the COBRA information packet will be mailed automatically from PayFlex. Your dependents have 60 days from the date your coverage ends or from the date the notice of election rights is sent, whichever is later, to choose whether to continue coverage.

Your beneficiary for the savings plan is a separate designation from your Carilion life insurance. You must designate your beneficiary with Principal for each savings plan in which you participate. You may designate or change your beneficiary at any time; see the savings plan page for more information.

• If you are married, your spouse is automatically your beneficiary.
• If you are not married, you may designate any one or more persons of your choosing to be a beneficiary.

If at the time of your death you have not designated a beneficiary or your beneficiary is not alive, your benefit will be paid in the following order to:

(a) your surviving spouse; and if no spouse, then to

(b) your children, including adopted children in equal shares; and if no children, then to

(c) your surviving parents, in equal shares; and if no surviving parents, then to

(d) your estate.

As a plan subject to ERISA rules, the savings plan will pay to your designated beneficiary or the default beneficiary under the terms of the plan. You may not direct the payment of the savings plan through your will.

The pension plan works differently than the savings plan or life insurance. You only designate a beneficiary when your payments begin.

• Once you are vested, if you die before pension payments begin, you are married (including legally separated) at your death and you have been married for at least six months, your surviving spouse is eligible for a benefit from the pension plan. A death prior to October 1, 2020 requires that you were married for at least one year.

• This survivor benefit is based on the benefit you had earned up until the date of your death. Benefit payments will continue for the life of your spouse. See the Summary Plan Description on the pension page for more information.

• If you’re not vested or not married at the time of your death, no survivor benefits are available.

• If you die and you’re already receiving your pension payment, the form of payment in effect at the time of death determines the benefit payable, if any.

If you have any questions, please contact the HR Service Center by email at hrservicecenter@carilionclinic.org, or by phone at 800-599-2537.

If you have a Qualifying Medical Condition (terminally ill as a result of an illness or physical condition which is reasonably expected to result in death within 12 months) while you are insured under the Group Policy, you may have the right to receive during your lifetime a portion of your Insurance as an Accelerated Benefit.  For questions and more information about this benefit, contact the HR Service Center.

It’s hard, but important, to take care of yourself when you experience a loss. Our Well-Being page has many resources, including the Center for Grief and Healing.

Human Resources: 800-599-2537 or hrservicecenter@carilionclinic.org