Death Benefit after RMD's Begin

[JBones]

An owner participant begins RMD's on 4/1/2011 in the form of a term certain annuity with a 26 year certain period. The participant is still employed and still accruing benefits. The plan provides for an insured death benefit. If the participant dies prior to actually retiring, will the beneficiary still receive the proceeds of the insurance policy as well as the remaining payments on the annuity? Are they even eligible for the pre-retirement death benefit after RMD benefits have commenced?

The document defines the pre-retirement death benefit as the greater of policy proceeds plus theoretical reserve, so I find it hard to believe that the beneficiary would get both.

[JBones]

My document provider says that according to their language, once RMDs begin, participants are not eligible for insured death benefit. I would like to amend this away, but only if the law allows it.

A previous post was very clear that insured post-retirement death benefits are not permitted. Is a participant considered "post-retirement" simply because they have begun RMD's (they are still employed accruing benefts)?