Pennsylvania Code
Title 31 - INSURANCE
Part IV - Life Insurance
Chapter 82 - VARIABLE LIFE INSURANCE
INSURANCE POLICY REQUIREMENTS
Section 82.24 - Mandatory policy provisions

Universal Citation: 31 PA Code ยง 82.24

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 44, November 2, 2024

A variable life insurance policy filed for approval in this Commonwealth shall contain at least the following provisions:

(1) The cover page of each policy containing the following:

(i) A prominent statement, in either contrasting color or in boldface type, that the amount or duration of the death benefit may be variable or fixed under specified conditions.

(ii) A prominent statement, in either contrasting color or in boldface type, that cash values may increase or decrease in accordance with the experience of the separate account subject to specified minimum guarantees.

(iii) A statement describing minimum death benefits required under § 82.23(2) (relating to mandatory policy benefit and design requirements).

(iv) The method or a reference to the policy provision which describes the method for determining the amount of insurance payable at death.

(v) A captioned provision prominently printed on the first page of the policy which provides that the policyholder may return the variable life insurance policy within at least 10 days of receipt of the policy by the policyholder and receive a refund of the premium payments for the policy.

(vi) Other items currently required for fixed benefit life insurance policies and which are consistent with this chapter.

(2) Grace periods which comply with the following:

(i) For scheduled premium policies, a provision for a grace period of at least 31 days from the premium due date which provides that, if the premium is paid within the grace period, policy values will be the same, except for the deduction of an overdue premium, as if the premium were paid on or before the due date.

(ii) For flexible premium policies, a provision for a grace period beginning on the policy processing day when the total charges authorized by the policy that are necessary to keep the policy in force until the next policy processing day exceed the amounts available under the policy to pay the charges in accordance with the terms of the policy. The grace period shall end on a date not less than 61 days after the mailing date of the Report to Policyholders required by § 82.74 (relating to warning statements for flexible premium policies). The death benefit payable during the grace period shall equal the death benefit in effect immediately prior to that period, less overdue charges. If the policy processing days occur monthly, the insurer may require the payment of not more than three times the charges which were due on the policy processing day on which the amounts available under the policy were insufficient to pay charges authorized by the policy that are necessary to keep the policy in force until the next policy processing day.

(3) For scheduled premium policies, a provision that the policy will be reinstated at any time within 2 years from the date of default upon the written application of the insured and the furnishing of evidence of insurability, including good health, satisfactory to the insurer, unless the cash surrender value has been paid or the period of extended insurance has expired; upon the payment of outstanding indebtedness arising subsequent to the end of the grace period following the date of default together with accrued interest thereon to the date of reinstatement; and upon payment of an amount not exceeding the greater of one of the following:

(i) All overdue premiums and indebtedness in effect at the end of the grace period following the date of default with interest at a rate not exceeding that permitted by section 410(k) of the act (40 P. S. § 510(k)).

(ii) One hundred ten percent of the increase in cash surrender value resulting from reinstatement plus overdue premiums for incidental insurance benefits with interest at a rate not exceeding that permitted by section 410(k) of the act.

(4) A full description of the benefit base and of the method of calculation and application of factors used to adjust variable benefits under the policy.

(5) A provision designating the separate account to be used and stating that:

(i) The assets of the separate account shall be available to cover the liabilities of the general account of the insurer only to the extent that the assets of the separate account exceed the liabilities of the separate account arising under the policies or contracts supported by the separate account.

(ii) The assets of the separate account shall be valued as often as policy benefits vary but at least monthly.

(6) A provision specifying what documents constitute the entire insurance contract.

(7) A designation of the officers of the insurer who are empowered to make an agreement or representation on behalf of the insurer and an indication that statements by the insured or on his behalf shall be considered as representations and not warranties.

(8) An identification of the owner of the insurance contract.

(9) A provision setting forth conditions or requirements as to the designation or change of designation of a beneficiary and a provision for disbursement of benefits in the absence of a beneficiary designation.

(10) A statement of conditions or requirements concerning the assignment of the policy.

(11) A description of the methods of adjustments made in death benefits and policy values-account values or cash values, or both-in the event of misstatement of age or sex of the insured. Examples of acceptable adjustment methods to the account value would be to recalculate from issue using mortality charges based on the correct age or sex or to make no adjustment. An example of an acceptable adjustment method for the death benefit of a flexible premium variable life insurance policy would be to determine the death benefit to be that purchased by the most recent mortality charge at the correct age or sex.

(12) A provision that the policy shall be incontestable by the insurer after it has been in force for 2 years during the lifetime of the insured. An increase in the amount of the policy's death benefits subsequent to the policy issue date, which increase occurred upon a new application or request of the owner and was subject to satisfactory proof of the insured's insurability, shall be incontestable after the increase has been in force, during the lifetime of the insured, for 2 years from the date of the issuance of the increase.

(13) A provision stating that the investment policy of the separate account may not be changed without the approval of the insurance commissioner of the state of domicile of the insurer and that the approval process is on file with the Commissioner.

(14) A provision that payment of variable death benefits in excess of minimum death benefits, cash values, policy loans or partial withdrawals-except when used to pay premiums-or partial surrenders may be deferred for one of the following:

(i) Up to 6 months from the date of request, if the payments are based on policy values which do not depend on the investment performance of the separate account.

(ii) For a period during which the New York Stock Exchange is closed for trading-except for normal holiday closing-or when the Securities and Exchange Commission has determined that a state of emergency exists which may make the payment impractical.

(15) A provision stating that if settlement options are provided, at least one option shall be provided on a fixed basis only.

(16) A description of the basis for computing the cash value and the surrender value under the policy.

(17) Premiums or charges for incidental insurance benefits, stated separately.

(18) Other policy provisions required by this chapter.

(19) Other items currently required for fixed benefit life insurance policies not inconsistent with this chapter.

(20) A provision for nonforfeiture insurance benefits. The insurer may establish a reasonable minimum cash value below which nonforfeiture insurance options will not be available.

This section cited in 31 Pa. Code § 82.21 (relating to insurance policy qualification); and 31 Pa. Code § 82.61 (relating to information for applicants).

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