Naming and Updating Beneficiaries

Did you know you can name beneficiaries for NCFlex's Cancer, Critical Illness, Group Term Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment plans? You can also update those beneficiaries at any time during the year, not just during Open Enrollment. Maybe you've experienced a life event such as a birth, marriage, divorce or death in the family, and you need to make some changes. There is no deadline for updating beneficiaries.

Read here to learn the importance of naming beneficiaries for your benefits, and discover what you should know about naming minors as beneficiaries in the article here.

Want to add or change your beneficiaries for your NCFlex benefits in the eBenefits platform? Find directions here. Employees of the University of North Carolina system can make changes to beneficiaries in the Empyrean platform and can find directions here.

Naming beneficiaries is just one step in securing your assets. Consider additional estate planning to be prepared for anything. For North Carolina State Employees' Credit Union (NCSECU) members, estate planning is offered at a discount. Learn more about NCSECU's services online or join an upcoming Sensible Savings session.

Bereavement Support Through the Group Term Life Plan*

Participants of NCFlex's Group Term Life Plan, administered through Voya, can now receive bereavement support services through Empathy at no cost to them. These bereavement support services include funeral planning and will preparation services for you and/or your family members. Learn how to access these services as a NCFlex Group Term Life participant by viewing the English flyer or Spanish flyer.

Similar services were previously offered to Group Term Life Plan participants through Everest. If you have information stored with Everest, call 1-800-913-8318 to retrieve or download your documents.

*Employees of the University System of North Carolina are not eligible to participate in the NCFlex Group Term Life Plans. Please reach out to your HR team to learn more about the Term Life benefits offered to you through your employer.

While social media has its benefits and has become a prominent presence in many of our lives, it's important to keep your mental health in mind when scrolling your feeds. Since World Social Media Day is June 30, brush up on these helpful tips for using social media responsibly as it pertains to your mental health. 

Set daily time limits. As of 2024, the average user spends 143 minutes on their social media accounts each day. Not only can the content you're consuming take a toll on your mental health, but it can also keep you from other activities that positively contribute to your well-being. Rather than spending that time on social media, set limits that discourage you from using an app once you've reached a specific amount of time that works for you. Whether you have an Apple device or an Android, use the linked directions for more free time.

Unfollow triggering accounts. There's no rule that says once you follow an account you have to continue. Social media platforms can be a major source of cyberbullying and harassment. Additionally, 62% of Facebook and Twitter users shared that the platforms leave them feeling inadequate, and 30% said using social media makes them feel lonely. Knowing time online can be detrimental to your mental health means it's important to be mindful as you scroll. Take note of how each post or account makes you feel and unfollow, block or mute those that don't elicit a positive emotional response. 

Stop scrolling before bed. Sleep is closely connected to your mental health, but using your phone can keep your mind engaged making it more difficult to relax and fall asleep at night. What's more, digital screens emit blue light that suppresses melatonin, a hormone that helps regulate sleep. As a result, ditching your phone before your bedtime instead of scanning social media feeds is much more conducive to falling asleep.

Take a break when needed. Remember you can always pause your use of social media for a few days when all the accounts and feeds start to feel overwhelming. You can turn off notifications or even remove the apps from your phone to avoid the risk of temptation and allow yourself the time you need to reset. Maybe you'll even find social media is no longer for you at all!