Death of Employee

Medical and Dental Coverage

• COBRA continuation for medical and dental coverage will be offered to the surviving spouse, former spouse and dependents who are covered on the day the employee’s insurance benefits end (the day of the death).
• A spouse and former spouse may continue COBRA coverage indefinitely.
• Dependents may remain on COBRA until age 26 or until they are no longer eligible. Except, covered grandchildren may remain on COBRA until age 25 or until no longer eligible. COBRA will be extended if a dependent experiences a second COBRA qualifying event.

Pre Tax Accounts

• Dependent Care Expense Account (DCEA) will end on the date of the employee’s death. (Eligibility for reimbursement of eligible DCEA expenses ends of the date of the employee’s death but the period in which to submit for reimbursement is the same as the plan year’s deadline)
• Transit Expense Accounts (TEA) will end on the date of the employee’s death. (allowed expenses end at employee’s death but submission continues for 180 days or plan year deadline)
• A surviving spouse or dependent may elect to continue the Medical Dental Expense Account (MDEA) through COBRA until end of the year in which the employee dies.

Life Coverage

• The employee’s life insurance benefits will end on the last day of the month in which the employee dies.
• Spouse life insurance and child life insurance will end at the end of the month in which the employee dies.
• A spouse and dependents have the option to contact Securian Financial (Minnesota Life) within 30 days of the death to request conversion (a form of continuation) at Securian Financial rates.

• Upon notification from Human Resources of the employee’s death, SEGIP will submit a death claim to Securian Financial (Minnesota Life) to pay the beneficiary the Basic Life insurance payout as well as any employee additional life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment that may apply.
• If you have any questions about the insurance payouts for Life and AD&D, please contact Securian Financial (Minnesota Life) directly. You can find the contact information on the Insurance Contacts page.

• The employee’s Human Resources office will let you know what documentation is required. It will likely include a copy of the death certificate and perhaps a survivor’s affidavits, power of attorney, or court order in order to process pay and to provide necessary tax forms.
• Securian Financial (Minnesota Life) will request a copy of the death certificate in order to process a life or AD&D claim.
• MSRS will require a copy of the death certificate in order to process a retirement account payout.

• Address changes: contact the employee’s Human Resources office.
• Pay and tax withholdings: information on pay and necessary tax documents will be provided by the employee’s Human Resources office.
• Retirement account: contact MSRS at info@msrs.us, 651-296-2761, or 800-657-5757.