An enrollee’s coverage can be terminated if the enrollee dies during the plan year. The death can be reported by an applicant or a household member who was included in the initial application and who is at least age 18.
You can report a death in your household by contacting BeWell in one of two ways:
- Call 833-862-3935 or TTY 711.
- Submit documentation of the death through the BeWell portal. The document may include a copy of the official death certificate or statement from someone qualified to attest to the death, such as a coroner or licensed funeral director, obituary, power of attorney, proof of executor or proof of estate. Include in the document:
- Deceased person’s full name, date of birth, Social Security Number (SSN) if known, address of the deceased person and date of death.
- Contact information for the person submitting the documentation, including full name, address, phone number and relationship to the deceased person.
You can submit the document online or mail it to BeWell. If you choose to mail the document, send it to:
BeWell
7601 Jefferson St. NE Suite 120
Albuquerque, NM 87109
What Happens Next?
BeWell will process the termination of coverage for the deceased person as of the date of death. They will work with the other people covered on the policy if they are eligible to keep their coverage. The household’s eligibility for financial assistance will be redetermined. Any changes to financial assistance will be automatically applied to the enrolled family members’ coverage.
We recommend members log in to their BeWell account to review their application and update other information that may have been changed. For example, this could include tax filing status, financial information, or address. Death of a family member is a Qualifying Life Event (QLE). So, the family may also qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to change health insurance coverage. A change can be made within 60 days of the death of the family member.
A household member who does not have access to the online account can initiate termination of the deceased’s coverage by calling BeWell at 833-862-3935.
If the head of household dies during the plan year, the remaining household members will be eligible for an SEP based on loss of coverage. The deceased head of household should remain in the account for tax purposes for the rest of the plan year.
What if a Person Is Reported Dead by Mistake?
- Contact SSA to report the person is not dead. Visit the SSA website, go to your local SSA office or call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 or TTY 1-800-325-0778.
- Notify BeWell of the mistake in one of these ways:
- Call 833-862-3935 or TTY 711.
- Upload a signed statement with your full name, date and contact information that states you are not deceased. Get steps to upload a document.
- Mail a signed statement with your full name, date and contact information that states you are not deceased. Please include your Application ID, which is included on your BeWell eligibility notice.
