Are You An Insurance Beneficiary?
In mid-April, insurance giant MetLife reached a multi-state settlement with insurance regulators, who accused the company of delaying or denying death benefit payments to policyholders. The settlement came after a year-long investigation into MetLife’s practices and resulted in MetLife paying $500 million to designated beneficiaries.
According to the investigation, MetLife failed to thoroughly use the Social Security Administration’s database to make prompt payments to survivors. Regulators in states that included Pennsylvania, California, Illinois, North Dakota and several others concluded that when MetLife was made aware that a policyholder had died, the company often did not make payments to listed beneficiaries or even contact them. In some cases, where benefits went unclaimed for several years, MetLife did not forward funds to the states’ controllers’ offices, as required by law.
This settlement emphasizes the need to be informed and fully understand what insurance policies are in place and who is designated as beneficiary. Not only should you be aware of what policies exist, but you also need to know how to submit the necessary forms and collect any benefits that are due to you. Many of the individuals affected in the MetLife case were able to be taken advantage of simply because they didn’t even know they were a beneficiary in someone else’s insurance policy.
The first step is to determine if there are any life insurance policies that were in force at the time of death. Keep in mind that some policies may not have been purchased directly by the deceased. Insurance coverage may have been provided in conjunction with a traveler’s club membership, health insurance plans, fraternal organizations or a credit card company. In addition, you should contact current or past employers to determine if there were any policies written through the company.
In order to confirm the existence of a policy, it is important to review the deceased’s personal papers and checkbook records which may reveal copies of policies or payment records. Once you confirm the existence of a policy, you should contact the insurance agent or the company for help in filling out the necessary paperwork and confirming the insurance benefits. Unfortunately, some insurance policies may have been written long ago under a company who is no longer in existence or now operating under a new name.
There are several organizations that can assist you in locating a missing policy.The Pennsylvania Insurance Department will answer consumer’s questions about policies. Their website www.insurance.state.pa.us/dsf/gfsearch.html includes contact information for all companies licensed in Pennsylvania. You can also contact them via their toll free number, 877-881-6388 or visit their regional office in Strawberry Square, downtown Harrisburg.
Grief Through The Seasons
 From October through December, there is no shortage of advice on how to deal with the loss of a loved one. Surviving holiday celebrations, family gatherings and other traditions that revolve around Thanksgiving and Christmas is difficult, since these holidays cement so many memories in our minds.
While many survivors focus on how they will get through the Christmas season, it is important to recognize that the entire year can be filled with special days that can be equally emotional for anyone who is grieving. From Easter and Passover to Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, each season brings memories of special events like weddings, graduations, birthdays, anniversaries and family reunions that may reinforce the reality of loss.
The days, weeks and months after a loved one has died will bring a variety of emotions as special days occur. According to grief therapist Karla Helbert, these special days, which are expected to be full of laughter and cheer, can be very painful. “Equally painful,” she says, “is the knowledge that every single year, for the rest of your life, these special days will happen without your loved one. Preparing for this reality will be helpful for you as you move through these hard times, in the first year and beyond.”
Ceremony, ritual and custom are ingrained in our families and mark significant times when we emphasize the things we hold most dear. These special days, regardless of when they fall on the calendar, can make anyone who is grieving question wonder how they can be sad during celebratory times.
Experts agree that if painful thoughts and feelings are ignored, important days can feel even worse. Ms. Helbert explains that significant days and the customs that go along with them work their ways into our collective cultural psyche. “You may feel irritable, annoyed, sad and down. If you feel this way, check the calendar. A significant day is likely to be on the horizon,” she says.
If you have recently lost a loved one, it is important to remember that your grief cannot be contained to one season or one holiday. Likewise, if you are a friend of someone who has lost a loved one, remember that they may need extra support during times of the year you may not expect. Don’t wait for December to invite them to lunch or a friendly get together. That invitation may be more welcome—and needed—in the middle of a sunny summer’s day.
The Meaning Of Memorial Day
Memorial Day will soon be here. For most of us the long weekend includes outdoor barbeques, holiday sales, watching the Indy 500 and attending the hometown parade. Over time the true meaning of Memorial Day has become obscured by all of these modern day holiday events.
 Decoration Day, the forerunner to Memorial Day, was started in May 1866 after the Civil War. Both sides of the conflict had suffered a great loss of life. Over 600,000 soldiers were killed during the war. Families sought to honor fallen war soldiers by placing flags or flowers on their graves. Two years later, General John Logan of the Union Veteran’s Association, proclaimed May 30, 1868 as a day when flowers would be placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.
The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states. The Southern states refused to acknowledge the day, since it honored Union soldiers. They chose to honor their dead on separate days until after World War I. By the 20th century, the day had been proclaimed “Memorial Day” and its purpose was expanded to honor the men and women who died during any war, while serving in the United States Armed Forces.
In 1915, Moina Michael, a U.S. professor and humanitarian, wrote the following poem:
We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.
While writing her poem, she got the idea of wearing red poppies as a symbol of remembrance for those who died while serving in World War I. Her idea grew as she sold poppies to her friends and co-workers with the money going to benefit servicemen in need.
In 1971 Congress declared Memorial Day a federal holiday and designated the last Monday in May as the official date. In 2000, the "National Moment of Remembrance" resolution was passed in an effort to help remind Americans of the original intent of Memorial Day. The resolution establishes that at 3:00pm local time, Americans will “observe in their own way a moment of remembrance and respect” for those who have fallen in war. So, this Memorial Day, take a moment to acknowledge the ultimate sacrifice that was made by American soldiers throughout the years.
Grief Resources For Children
 When Families Grieve: Sesame Street Grief Program Now Available
Losing a loved one is never easy,
but it can be particularly difficult for children. When a grandparent, sibling, parent or close relative passes away,
it is a difficult journey for children to understand.
Parthemore Funeral Home has always been committed to providing families with wide array of resources to help explain the grieving process and offer suggestions on how to handle the rush of emotions. The professionals at Parthemore are proud to make available DVDs, pamphlets, books and other resources at the funeral home. The resources in the funeral home’s lending library are extremely helpful for families who may need additional guidance when dealing with a loss. The valuable information provided through Parthemore’s lending library is free of charge.
Now included in the lending library is When Families Grieve, a special multi-media program developed by Sesame Workshop, the creators of Sesame Street. Featuring children’s favorites like Elmo and Oscar and narrated by Katie Couric, the highly regarded When Families Grieve helps families connect, communicate and move forward after a loss.
The multi-media resource will help reduce levels of anxiety, sadness and confusion and will reassure children that they are loved and safe and will be able to continue to enjoy their own lives as they move through the grieving process.
In addition to the lending library, Parthemore is involved with the Highmark Caring Place. Through the Pennsylvania Funeral Directors Association, Parthemore actively participates in fundraising and also volunteers for the worthwhile programs presented by Highmark.
Click here for more details on how the Highmark Caring Place helps children deal with grief.
PFDA Hosts Annual
Highmark Caring Place Golf Classic
The Pennsylvania Funeral Directors Association will host its annual Golf Classic on Tuesday, June 12 at the Manada Golf Club in Grantville, PA. PFDA holds the annual golf classic to support the mission of the Highmark Caring Place, a center for grieving children, adolescents and their families who have lost a loved one. The services are provided at no cost to the children and families. All proceeds from the tournament benefit the programs and activities of the Highmark Caring Place and are matched dollar for dollar by Highmark Blue Shield.
Join us PFDA on Tuesday, June 12, for an exciting day of golf, lunch, dinner and prizes, starting with registration and lunch from 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. The tournament will begin at 12:15 p.m. with a shotgun start and will conclude with a barbecue dinner and awards ceremony. If you would like to register to play, please contact Sam Zema at PFDA, 800-692-6068 or 717-545-7215, or E-mail szema@pfda.org.
“We would like to thank you for making a really hard experience
much easier. We realize this is a job for you folks,
but the sincerity, personal attention to my mother and
your genuine caring was truly appreciated by all.”
- New Cumberland, PA
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