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Death of an Associate Here’s Help! Enhanced resources available when a loved one passes away: Beneficiary Assistance Microsite on Metlife.com – provides extensive resources to help manage important tasks including notification of important third parties like credit agencies, closing social media accounts and credit cards, etc. To access go to Metlife.com/beneassist Life Planning Resource Guide from Health Advocate – provides a general overview of practical tasks and decisions that beneficiaries are likely to face, worksheets for guidance, info on settling the estate, additional resources and where to turn for help. Click here for copy of the guide. The loss of a loved one can be an extremely emotional and stressful time. Death of an associate is considered a qualified life event, which impacts benefits. When confronted with the death of a loved one, the surviving family of the deceased associate should consider the information below. Click here to view the Summary Plan Descriptions for each of American Greeting’s Benefit Plans for more details on the impact of your benefits due to a qualified life event. Health Care/Dental/Vision Health care, dental, and vision coverage ends on the associate’s date of death. However, coverage for the plans in which the associate was enrolled continues for a surviving spouse and/or covered dependents through the end of the month in which the associate's death occurs. The surviving dependent may, if enrolled at the time of the associate’s death, purchase health care, dental, and vision coverage for up to 36 months through the COBRA continuation provisions of the plans. Click here for more information on COBRA. If the associate was eligible for retiree healthcare then the surviving spouse may enroll in retiree healthcare. Contact AmWINS Care Line for American Greetings Retirees at (844) 796-3621 for additional information. Life & AD&D Insurance Upon the death of an associate, a surviving dependent should reach out to the AGBenefits Service Center at (877) 213-6240 who will notify MetLife to begin the process of filing the life insurance claim. MetLife will send a life insurance claim form (and AD&D form, if applicable) to the named beneficiary. The completed form(s) and an original (or certified copy) death certificate should be sent to MetLife. Once MetLife is notified and receives all of the necessary paperwork, benefits are processed. Death benefits from the AD&D plan are processed separately and make take longer because of the need for the accidental cause of death. Dependents of a deceased associate covered under Dependent Life and Optional Family AD&D coverage will remain covered through the end of the month in which the associate died. Dependents may convert all or part of his/her life insurance to an individual whole life insurance contract up to 31 days after loss of coverage (or 45 days from the date the conversion notice is given to the child, if the notice is given more than 15 days but less than 90 days after the date benefits were terminated or reduced). There is no conversion option for AD&D coverage. Health Savings Accounts In the event that an associate who has funds in a health savings account (HSA) passes away, the named beneficiary will be entitled to the account. Additional contributions may not continue after the date of the associate’s death. If it is decided to close the OptumHealth HSA and use the funds for eligible medical expenses, the funds are not subject to taxation. If the funds are used for expenses that are not considered eligible medical expenses, the withdrawal is subject to ordinary income tax; and if under age 65, an additional 20% penalty tax. For more information visit, Optum Bank or call (866) 234-8913. Flexible Spending Accounts If an associate who has been making deposits to his or her flexible spending account (FSA) passes away, the account will be impacted. Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DCFSA): Deposits stop on the date of the associate’s death. Claims for eligible expenses incurred while actively contributing to the account can continue to be filed to the associate’s DCFSA until March 31st of the following year, or until all the money in your DCFSA has been paid out (if prior to the end of the plan year). Money left in the DCSA at year end is forfeited. DCFSAs are not considered health plans; therefore, federal COBRA regulations do not apply. Coverage or service dates may not be extended for surviving dependents beyond the associate’s date of death. Health Care Flexible Spending Account (HCFSA): Deposits stop on the date of the associate’s death. Surviving dependents may submit for reimbursement for eligible expenses incurred prior to the associate’s death. Claims for eligible expenses incurred while the associate was actively contributing to the account can be filed to the associate’s HCFSA until March 31st of the following year, or until all the money in HCFSA has been paid out (if prior to the end of the plan year). Money left in the HCFSA at the end of the plan year (including grace period for filing claims) is forfeited. Surviving dependents may be offered COBRA continuation coverage if claims do not exceed balance. Retirement Savings Plan When an associate passes away, it is the responsibility of his or her beneficiary(ies) to contact Vanguard regarding options for distribution of the account. It is imperative that beneficiaries are made aware that they may be entitled to a distribution upon your passing and that they have the contact information for Vanguard (Plan 091997.). For more information on options available to eligible beneficiaries, refer to Distribution Upon Death in the Summary Plan Description.
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Qualifying Life Events 
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