There are two separate beneficiary designations under the AFTRA Health and Retirement Plans.

AFTRA Health Plan participants
A $30,000 life insurance benefit from Aetna is included with the AFTRA Health Plan for each participant. Participants select a beneficiary when they enroll, and they may change a beneficiary at any time by completing a new Performer Enrollment Form.

Performers earning benefits under the AFTRA Retirement Plan
Once you become vested, you may designate a beneficiary for pension benefits that you have earned under the AFTRA Retirement Plan. In order to designate a beneficiary or to change a beneficiary you have previously designated, submit a completed Designation of Beneficiary Form to AFTRA H&R.  It's important to note that if you're married when you retire, your spouse (on that date) is your beneficiary for your pension benefits, unless your spouse consents in writing (on the Application for Retirement Benefits) to you naming another person. Once you retire and begin receiving pension payments, your beneficiary for pension benefits cannot be changed.

Other helpful pages:

Life events: When there is a death
Life insurance and AD&D benefits under the AFTRA Health Plan 
Survivor benefits under the AFTRA Retirement Plan

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