While a group life insurance policy is in force, the insured employee's right to name and change the beneficiary is generally exercised:

Why A is correct

Although the employer owns the group master contract, each insured employee controls the beneficiary designation for his or her own coverage. The employee may name and change the beneficiary during the policy period without the employer's consent, typically by filing a written designation with the employer or insurer. The employer acts as a facilitator and policyholder for administrative purposes, but the beneficiary choice is the employee's personal right under the contract and applicable law. This is why certificates state the employee's designated beneficiary and allow updates as family circumstances change.

Why the other options are wrong

• B) The employer owns the master contract and administers the plan, but it does not control each employee's beneficiary designation. The beneficiary choice is a personal right of the insured employee under the contract.
• C) The insurer processes designation forms in accordance with the master contract, but it does not hold approval authority over each employee's beneficiary change. The employee exercises the designation right directly.
• D) The employee may change the beneficiary throughout the policy period as family circumstances change, not only at the time of initial enrollment. Updating a designation after marriage, divorce, or a birth is a routine permitted action.

Memory hook

Employer holds the master contract; the employee holds the beneficiary pen.