Individual Current Assumption Whole Life Insurance Policy Standards
Table of Contents
1. Date Adopted: December 15, 2022
2. Purpose and Scope: The purpose of this rule is to establish reasonable uniform standards for Individual Current Assumption Whole Life Insurance products filed with the Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Commission (“IIPRC”). These standards apply to individual current assumption whole life or endowment insurance policies including limited pay policies. The policy has a required scheduled premium with a 31-day grace period, reduced paid up and/or extended term benefits upon default in premium payment, and an interest sensitive account value that is the retrospective accumulation of premiums less charges accumulated at no less than a guaranteed minimum interest rate.
3. Rules Repealed, Amended or Suspended by the Rule: This rule amends the Individual Current Assumption Whole Life Insurance Policy Standards originally adopted by the IIPRC on September 28, 2007; and amended on August 27, 2008, August 15, 2014, August 25, 2016 and December 15, 2022.
The rule was amended pertaining to the length of the maximum suicide exclusion period found in §3.X.6(b) and §3.BB.(3). The amendments maintain a maximum suicide exclusion period of up to two years and include an exception requiring a shorter maximum suicide exclusion period where required by state law.
The addition of the requirement for an exception for a shorter maximum suicide exclusion period where required by state law reflects a substantive change in demonstrating compliance with the Uniform Standards. Therefore, the Commission determined the amendments will be effective for compliance purposes for new products and for new issues of previously approved Compact products.
4. Statutory Authority: Among the IIPRC’s primary purposes and powers is to establish reasonable uniform standards for the insurance products covered in the Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Compact (“Compact”), specifically pursuant to Article I §2, Article IV §2 and Article VII §1 of the Compact, as enacted into law by each IIPRC member state.
5. Required Findings: None
6. Effective Date: April 3, 2023, for new product submissions and October 3, 2023, for new issues of previously approved Compact products.1
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1 In adopting the Uniform Standards amendments, the Commission set an effective date of April 3, 2023, for new product submissions. In recognition of the complexity involved in updating previously approved products to demonstrate compliance with the amendments for new issues, the Commission set an effective date of October 3, 2023, for new issues of previously approved Compact products. As of October 3, new issues of all Compact approved products in the current Compacting States must comply with the amendments.
Scope: These standards apply to individual current assumption whole life or endowment insurance policies including limited pay policies and the applicable provisions providing for paid-up insurance. The policy has a required scheduled premium with a 31 day grace period, reduced paid up and/or extended term benefits upon default in premium payment, and an interest sensitive account value that is the retrospective accumulation of premiums less charges at no less than a guaranteed minimum interest rate. The cash value available for loans and surrender is equal to the greater of: (i) the account value less surrender charge and (ii) the guaranteed cash value for a whole life or endowment plan. These types of policies are sometimes identified as “interest sensitive life” or “fixed premium universal life”.
These standards do not apply to policies that allow the owner to pay additional premiums subject to specified limits. These standards also do not address survivorship coverage, externally indexed policy features (other than with respect to variable loan interest rate), policies with market value adjustments, or variable policies.
Mix and Match: These standards are available to be used in combination with State Product Components as described in Section 111(b) of the Operating Procedure for the Filing and Approval of Product Filings.
Self-Certification: These standards are not available to be filed using the Rule for the Self-Certification of Product Components Filed with the Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Commission.
As used in these standards the following definitions apply:
“Account value” is the retrospective accumulation of premiums, reduced by specified charges (which include the cost of insurance) and expenses, at no less than a guaranteed minimum interest rate.
“Cash surrender value” is the cash value reduced by indebtedness.
“Cash value” is the greater of the account value less any surrender charge or the guaranteed cash value.
“Current assumption endowment” means a policy that matures at not less than the face amount at some age earlier than the terminal age of the valuation mortality table applicable to the policy.
“Current assumption whole life insurance” means a policy that matures at not less than the face amount at the terminal age of the valuation mortality table applicable to the policy.
“Guaranteed cash value” is the minimum cash value for a whole life or endowment plan as provided in the policy.
Drafting Notes:
Other terms may be used in the policy provided they are used consistently.
The references to “age” and “insured” do not preclude joint plans.
The references to “policy” do not preclude Fraternal Benefit Societies from substituting “certificate” in their forms.
§ 1 ADDITIONAL SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
The following additional filing submission requirements shall apply:
(1) All forms filed for approval shall be included with the filing. Changes to a previously approved form shall be highlighted. The specifications page of a policy shall be completed with hypothetical data that is realistic and consistent with the other contents of the policy and any required actuarial memorandum in support of nonforfeiture values.
(2) If a filing is being submitted on behalf of a company, include a letter or other document authorizing the firm to file on behalf of the insurer with the filing.
(3) If the filing contains an insert page, an explanation of when the insert page will be used should be included in the filing.
(4) If the specification pages of the policy contains variable items, the submission shall include the Statement of Variability. The submission shall also include a certification that any change or modification to a variable item shall be administered in accordance with the requirements in the Variability of Information section, including any requirements for prior approval of a change or modification.
(5) Include a certification signed by a company officer that the policy form has a minimum Flesch Score of 50.
(6) A description of any innovative or unique features of each policy form.
(7) State whether the policy is sex-distinct or unisex. If sex-distinct, the company shall confirm that the policy will not be issued in any employer-employee plans that are subject to the Norris decision and/or Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
(8) Appropriate policy pages completed for each type of rating used by the company; for example, percentage of standard class premium, extra premium, temporary or permanent flat charge per $1,000 to demonstrate how the policy will disclose the rates and charges applicable to each type of rating class. This is not intended to require pages for all rating classes, but only examples of each type of rating applied by the company.
(9) The optional certification allowed by Paragraph (9) of the Policy Adjustments section.
B. ACTUARIAL MEMORANDUM REQUIREMENTS
(1) Include an actuarial memorandum prepared, dated and signed by the member of the American Academy of Actuaries who provides the following information concerning the determination of the nonforfeiture values: (including both cash surrender values and paid-up nonforfeiture values):
(a) A demonstration that the nonforfeiture values of the policy comply with the minimums required by Section 6.B. of the NAIC Universal Life Insurance Regulation, model #585. Sample calculations shall be performed for representative issue ages including issue age 35 if within the issue age range and, if applicable, at least one issue age where the payment of required premiums and the application of the policy guarantees with respect to expense charges, interest credits, and mortality charges would cause the policy cash value to exceed the initial death benefit under the policy at some point in the future prior to the maturity date. The demonstration shall be performed at time of issue and assume the payment of all future required premiums under the policy and expense charges, interest credits, and mortality charges equal to the guarantees in the policy;
(b) A description of the policy provisions that affect the interest rates, cost of insurance rates, expense charges, surrender charges and/or nonforfeiture values;
(c) Identification and description of the source of the applicable mortality tables that are the basis of the guaranteed maximum cost of insurance rates;
(d) The guaranteed maximum cost of insurance rates for all ages, male and female, unisex, if applicable, smoker and nonsmoker, and all underwriting classes Any formula consistent with generally accepted actuarial methodologies and applicable Actuarial Standards of Practice may be used to convert the guaranteed maximum annual cost of insurance rates to their equivalent modal guaranteed maximum cost of insurance rates provided such modal rates do not exceed the lesser of:
{1 - (1 - qx)^(1/n)} / {(1 - qx)^(1/n)} or 1/n
where n equals the number of cost of insurance deductions from the account value per year and qx is the annual mortality rate from the applicable table;
(e) All guaranteed maximum expense charges by age and duration for males and females, unisex, if applicable, smokers and nonsmokers, and all underwriting classes, including per contract charges, per $1000 amount of insurance charges, percentage of premium charges and surrender charges;
(f) The formulae, assumptions and methodology used;
(g) Identification of the mortality table used in demonstrating compliance with the minimums required by Section 6 of the NAIC Universal Life Insurance Regulation, model #585. The smoker/nonsmoker mortality tables in the NAIC Model Rule (Regulation) Permitting Smoker/Nonsmoker Mortality Tables For Use In Determining Minimum Reserve Liabilities And Nonforfeiture Benefits, or the mortality rates which are a blend of the male and female rates in the NAIC Procedure For Permitting Same Minimum Nonforfeiture Standards For Men and Women Insured Under 1980 CSO And 1980 CET Mortality Tables, or any other mortality tables approved for use by the NAIC in determining minimum nonforfeiture values, may be used in determining minimum nonforfeiture values. If applicable for the policy form submitted, for issue ages less than that for which rates are nonsmoker/smoker distinct, the composite version of the mortality table shall be used for demonstrating compliance;
(h) Include a statement at the end of the actuarial memorandum certifying that the nonforfeiture values available under the policy equal or exceed the minimums required under the NAIC Standard Nonforfeiture Law for Life Insurance, model #808, for all ages, rate classes and durations at which the policy is available; and
(i) The range of issue ages and the minimum specified amount for which the policy will be issued.
(1) The company may identify items that will be considered variable only in the specifications page. The item shall be bracketed or otherwise marked to denote variability. The submission shall include a Statement of Variability that will discuss the conditions under which each variable item may change.
(2) Any change or modification shall be limited to only new issues of the policy and shall not apply to in force contracts.
(3) The following items shall only be changed upon prior approval:
(a) Guaranteed maximum cost of insurance rates and the mortality tables on which they are based;
(b) Guaranteed interest rate for account value, guaranteed cash value and nonforfeiture benefits;
(c) Guaranteed maximum surrender charges;
(d) Guaranteed maximum expense charges;
(e) Premium payment periods;
(f) Endowment periods for current assumption endowment insurance; and
(g) Settlement option tables.
(4) In addition to the items listed in Paragraph (3) above, a change or modification to any other item not specifically listed that may affect the derivation and compliance of policy nonforfeiture values with any required minimum nonforfeiture values shall also be subject to prior approval. All submissions for approval of a change shall be accompanied by a demonstration, if applicable, signed by a member of the American Academy of Actuaries, that the policy continues to comply with the NAIC Universal Life Insurance Regulation, model #585.
(5) The company may also identify product specifications that may be changed without prior notice or approval, as long as the Statement of Variability presents reasonable and realistic ranges for the item. These items include charges for illustrative reports, number of partial withdrawals, conversion periods, conversion credits, minimum partial withdrawal and minimum loan amounts, charges for supplemental benefits and options, any ages assumed in the calculation of benefits and options, and policy loan interest rates. A zero entry for a range of values on the specifications page for any benefit or credit provided for in the language of the policy is unacceptable. Any change to a range requires a re-filing for prior approval and shall be accompanied by a demonstration, if applicable, signed by a member of the American Academy of Actuaries, that the contract continues to comply with the NAIC Universal Life Insurance Regulation, model #585.
(6) Notwithstanding Paragraph (1) above, items such as the insurance department address and telephone number, company address and telephone number, officer titles, and signatures of officers located in other areas of the policy may be denoted as variable and changed without notice or prior approval.
(7) If the policy is for use with more than one plan, the various level premium period or term periods shall be identified as a variable item on the specifications page. Examples of acceptable plans would include (a) various premium paying periods for both the current assumption whole life and endowment policies, such as 20 pay or paid up at a specified age, but would not include a single premium plan, which contains significantly different standards, and (b) various endowment periods for the current assumption endowment policy. The company may not use the same policy to provide both a current assumption whole life plan and a current assumption endowment plan. The company may also not use the same policy form to provide alternate plans by making any features and benefits described in the policy inapplicable by a zero entry or by indicating that the benefit is not applicable on the specifications page or in the policy. For example, the use of one policy with and without a surrender charge is unacceptable.
Drafting Note: The working group believes the above provisions address the issue. Industry may provide examples with specific detail to demonstrate the kinds of variability that they would seek in policies that is not contemplated by this section.
(1) The policy text shall achieve a minimum score of 50 on the Flesch reading ease test or an equivalent score on any other approved comparable reading test. See Appendix A for Flesch methodology.
(2) The policy shall be presented, except for specifications pages, schedules and tables, in not less than ten point type, one point leaded.
(3) The style, arrangement and overall appearance of the policy shall give no undue prominence to any portion of the text of the policy or to any endorsements or riders.
(4) The policy shall contain a table of contents or an index of the principal sections of the policy, if the policy has more than 3,000 words printed on three or fewer pages of text or if the policy has more than three pages regardless of the number of words.
(1) The full corporate name, including city and state, of the company shall appear in prominent print on the cover page of the policy. “Prominent print” means, for example, all capital letters, contrasting color, underlined or otherwise differentiated from the other type on the form.
(2) A marketing name or logo may also be used on the cover page of the policy provided that the marketing name or logo does not mislead as to the identity of the company.
(3) The company’s complete mailing address for the home office or the office that will administer the policy shall appear on the cover page of the policy. The cover page of the policy shall include a telephone number of the company and, if available, some method of Internet communication. The telephone number of the insurance department of the state where the policy is delivered or issued for delivery is also required on either the cover page or the first specifications page.
(4) Two signatures of company officers shall appear on the cover page of the policy.
(5) A Right to Examine Policy provision that shall appear on the cover page of the policy or is visible without opening the policy.
(6) A form identification number shall appear at the bottom of the form in the lower left hand corner of the form. The form number shall be adequate to distinguish the form from all others used by the company. The form number shall include a prefix of ICCxx (where xx represents the appropriate year the form was submitted for filing) to indicate it has been approved by the Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Commission.
(7) A brief description that shall appear in prominent print on the cover page of the policy or be visible without opening the policy. The brief description shall contain at least the following information:
(a) A caption of the type of coverage provided; for example, Current Assumption Life, Interest Sensitive Whole Life, Current Assumption Endowment at Age 95. The company may also use these captions with a reference to premium payment information and endowment information on the specifications page;
(b) An indication of “convertible” if the policy is convertible; and an indication as to whether the policy is participating or nonparticipating;
(c) An indication of any war risk exclusion in the policy; and
(d) A clear statement that the benefits, values, periods of coverage, or premiums are on an indeterminate basis and, if such is the fact, that the initial interest rate is guaranteed only for a limited period of time.
(8) For any policy that is convertible, the cover page shall include the conversion period unless it is shown on the specifications page.
(1) The specifications page shall include the benefits, amounts, durations, premium information (including any policy fees), and any other benefit data applicable to the insured.
(2) The minimum guaranteed interest rate shall be set forth on the specifications page, along with the guaranteed expense charges and loads that may be deducted from the premiums paid or the account value and guaranteed maximum mortality charges for all attained ages of the insured based on the mortality basis of the insured’s risk class at issue. No figures based on nonguarantees shall be included in the policy.
(3) If the policy is a participating policy, the specifications page shall indicate that the dividends are not guaranteed. However, if the company will not credit dividends, the specifications page shall state that dividends are not expected to be paid.
(4) For any policy that is convertible, the specifications page shall include the conversion period unless it is shown on the cover page.
(5) Any limitations on the crediting of additional interest on a portion of the account value shall be described.
(6) Any surrender charges and partial withdrawal fees shall be listed.
(7) The maturity date shall be defined or listed. If the policy does not provide for maturity extension provision as outlined in §3 N, the policy shall state that the cash surrender value will be paid on the maturity date.
(1) The policy shall not contain inconsistent, ambiguous, unfair, inequitable or misleading clauses, provisions that are against public policy as determined by the Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Commission, or contain exceptions and conditions that unreasonably affect the risk purported to be assumed in the general coverage of the policy.
(1) The policy shall not provide for unilateral amendments that reduce or eliminate benefits or coverage, or impair or invalidate any right granted to the owner under the policy except for amendments to conform to changes in any applicable provisions or requirements of the Internal Revenue Code.
(2) Amendments to approved forms are subject to prior approval.
(3) Subject to the prohibition against unfair discrimination, any amendment may apply prospectively to new owners and, if applicable, to new contributions of existing owners.
Drafting Note: These standards are modified, as required or permitted by law, to enable fraternals to implement their respective articles and bylaws. See Appendix C.
(1) Only arbitration provisions that permit voluntary post-dispute binding arbitration shall be allowed in policy forms. With respect to such a provision, the following guidelines apply:
(a) Arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association ("AAA"), before a panel of three neutral arbitrators who are knowledgeable in the field of life insurance and appointed from a panel list provided by the AAA.
(b) Arbitration shall be held in the city or county where the policy owner or beneficiary lives.
(c) The cost of arbitration shall be paid by the company.
Drafting Note: These standards are modified, as required or permitted by law, to enable fraternals to implement their respective articles and bylaws. See Appendix C.
(1) The policy shall contain an assignment provision. The policy shall not include any restrictions on the availability of policy assignments, except in situations where restrictions are required for purposes of satisfying applicable laws or regulations.
(2) The policy shall describe procedures for assignments and shall state that assignments, unless otherwise specified by the owner, shall take effect on the date the notice of assignment is signed by the owner, subject to any payments made or actions taken by the company prior to receipt of this notice.
(3) The policy may state that the company shall not be liable for the validity of the assignment.
Drafting Note: Restrictions on assignment in policy forms such as right of first refusal or first offer provisions are prohibited by Item (1).
(1) The policy shall contain a beneficiary provision. The provision shall describe the procedures for designating or changing the beneficiaries, or for selecting default beneficiaries as may be necessary, and indicating when such designation is effective. The policy shall not include any restriction on change of beneficiary other than for purposes of satisfying applicable laws or regulations.
(2) The policy shall state that changes in beneficiary, unless otherwise specified by the owner, shall take effect on the date the notice of change is signed by the owner, subject to any payments made or actions taken by the company prior to receipt of this notice.
(3) If irrevocable beneficiaries are referenced in the policy, the policy shall explain that such a beneficiary cannot be changed without the consent of the irrevocable beneficiary.
E. CONFORMITY WITH INTERSTATE INSURANCE PRODUCT REGULATION COMMISSION STANDARDS
(1) The policy shall state that it was approved under the authority of the Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Commission and issued under the Commission standards. The policy shall also state that any provision of the policy that on the provision’s effective date is in conflict with the applicable Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Commission standards for this product type in effect as of the provision’s effective date of Commission policy approval is hereby amended to conform to the applicable Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Commission standards in effect as of the provision’s effective date of Commission policy approval.
(1) A policy that is convertible shall contain a provision describing the conditions of the conversion privilege. The conversion period shall be shown on the cover page or specifications page.
(2) The conversion provision shall describe the following information, if applicable:
(a) When the first premium is due;
(b) What supplemental benefits included in the policy may be converted;
(c) The type or types of policies to which a conversion may be made;
(d) The minimum and maximum amount of coverage available for conversion;
(e) The criteria used to determine the premiums at the point of conversion; and
(f) Any evidence of insurability requirements. Such evidence would be limited to amounts in excess of the amount of life insurance in effect at the time of conversion and any supplemental benefits unrelated to the life risk.
(3) The policy may provide that a discount is applied to the conversion policy total premium in the year of conversion. The discount or the method by which the discount is calculated shall be described in the policy.
(4) The policy shall provide that the incontestability and suicide provisions attributable to the coverage converted will run from the date of the original policy. If the new policy includes additional coverage for which evidence of insurability was given, new incontestability and suicide provisions may apply to that coverage.
(1) The policy shall describe how the death benefit proceeds are determined, and shall describe all death benefit options available under the policy. The policy shall contain sufficient information for the death benefit amount to be determined at any time, including the applicable table of factors demonstrating compliance at the time of issue with the federal qualification for life insurance based on the Cash Value Accumulation Test or the Guideline Premium Test. In the determination of any federal qualification based on factors applied to a policy value, the greater of the account value or the guaranteed cash value shall be used. The death benefit amount shall be determined as of the date of death.
(2) The policy shall contain a provision for the payment of interest on the death benefit, as follows:
(a) Interest shall accrue and be payable from the date of death.
(b) Interest shall accrue at the rate or rates applicable to the policy for funds left on deposit, or if the company has not established a rate for funds left on deposit, at the Two Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate as published by the Federal Reserve. In determining the effective annual rate or rates, the company shall use the rate in effect on the date of death.
(c) Interest shall accrue at the effective annual rate determined in Item (b) above, plus additional interest at a rate of 10% annually beginning with the date that is 31 calendar days from the latest of Items (i), (ii) and (iii) to the date the claim is paid, where it is:
(i) The date that due proof of death is received by the company;
(ii) The date the company receives sufficient information to determine its liability, the extent of the liability, and the appropriate payee legally entitled to the proceeds; and
(iii) The date that legal impediments to payment of proceeds that depend on the action of parties other than the company are resolved and sufficient evidence of the same is provided to the company. Legal impediments to payment include, but are not limited to (a) the establishment of guardianships and conservatorships; (b) the appointment and qualification of trustees, executors and administrators; and (c) the submission of information required to satisfy state and federal reporting requirements.
(3) The death benefit proceeds paid shall be at least equal to the death benefit of the policy and any riders that are payable, plus any dividend values in the policy at the time of death, less any indebtedness and overdue premium. If death occurs during a period for which a premium has been paid, the company shall add to the policy proceeds a refund of any premium actually paid for any period beyond the end of the policy month of death. However, if the account value is sufficiently large so as to impact the determination of the death benefit, the company may reduce the premium refund by the amount of the death benefit increase that resulted from the unearned premium.
(4) The policy may require that due proof of the death of the insured will consist of a certified copy of the death certificate of the insured, or other lawful evidence providing equivalent information, and proof of the claimant’s interest in the proceeds.
H. DEPENDENT AND FAMILY MEMBER COVERAGE
(1) The policy may provide coverage for dependents and family members. If the policy provides such coverage:
(a) The policy shall comply with the applicable state law where the policy is delivered or issued for delivery, with respect to the coverage and benefits available to a person who is in a legally-sanctioned domestic partnership or civil union and to their families, or available to a person who is in a legally-sanctioned marriage with the insured and to their families; and
(b) Nothing in this provision shall be construed as requiring any company to provide coverage or benefits to any person who is in a domestic partnership, civil union or marriage with the insured, or to their families, in a state where such relationships are not legally recognized.
(1) The policy shall contain a provision regarding what constitutes the entire contract between the company and the owner. No document may be included by reference.
(2) All statements made by the applicant for the issuance or reinstatement of a policy shall, in the absence of fraud, be deemed representations and not warranties.
(3) If the application is to be a part of the policy, the entire contract provision shall state that the application is a part of the contract.
(4) If the company intends to contest any supplemental applications used to apply for policy adjustments subsequent to issue, then the entire contract provision shall refer to these applications. The provision shall indicate that the applications will be attached to or endorsed upon the policy, in accordance with Paragraph (3) of the Incontestability section.
Drafting Note: These standards are modified, as required or permitted by law, to enable fraternals to implement their respective articles and bylaws. See Appendix C.
(1) Any exclusion applied to the death benefit of the policy, except for accidental death benefits, shall be limited to the following:
(a) War
(i) If in the application the proposed insured represents that he or she is a member of the United States military, military reserves, or the National Guard, whether active or inactive, risk of death as a result of war or any act related to military service shall not be excluded from the death benefit of the policy.
(ii) Regarding non-combatant civilian exclusions, risk of death may be excluded under the following conditions:
(A) As a result of war or an act of war while the insured is serving in any civilian non-combatant unit serving with such forces, provided such death occurs while serving in such units or within six months after termination of service in such units, whichever is earlier.
(B) As a result of the special hazards incident to service in any civilian non-combatant unit serving with such forces, if the cause of death occurs while the insured is serving in such units and is outside the home area, provided such death occurs outside the home area or within six months after the insured’s return to the home area while serving in such units or within six months after the termination of service in such units, whichever is earlier.
(iii) Regarding civilian exclusions, risk of death may be excluded under the following conditions:
(A) As a result of war or an act of war, within two years from the date of issue of the policy, while the insured is not serving in such forces or units, if the cause of death occurs while the insured is outside the home area, provided such death occurs outside the home area or within six months after the insured’s return to the home area.
(iv) “Home area” is defined to include at least the 50 states of the United States and its territories, the District of Columbia and Canada. “War” includes, but is not limited to, declared war, and armed aggression by one or more countries resisted on orders of any other country, combination of countries or international organization. “Act of war” means any act peculiar to military, naval or air operations in time of war.
(b) Avocation, Aviation, Occupation, Foreign Travel and Foreign Residency:
The policy may exclude from coverage death due to a specific avocation, aviation, occupation, foreign travel or foreign residency. The exclusion may be included in the policy, or may be added by rider, endorsement or amendment attached to the policy on or after the policy’s date of issue. The exclusion shall be based on information disclosed by the proposed insured in the application for the policy, or identified for the proposed insured during the underwriting process of such application. The standards applicable to such exclusions are included in the Standards for Forms Used to Exclude Policy Coverage Based on the Underwriting Process, and are subject to the applicable law in the state where the policy is delivered or issued for delivery.
(2) Any amount payable as a result of death from an excluded act shall be at least equal to the greater of the gross premiums paid for the policy or the cash value, each adjusted for dividend values, loans, partial withdrawals and surrenders.
(3) The policy may not exclude from coverage death due to any specific medical condition.
(1) The policy shall contain a grace period provision and include the conditions of the provision.
(2) A minimum of 31-day grace period shall be provided for the payment of any premium due except the first.
(3) The coverage shall continue in force during the grace period.
(4) The policy may provide that if the insured dies during the grace period the overdue premium will be deducted in any settlement under the policy. Interest cannot be added to any overdue premium.
(5) The company may not require that the premium be received within the grace period. The owner shall have the entire grace period within which to remit payment. Any payments sent by U.S. mail shall be postmarked within the grace period.
(1) The policy shall contain an incontestability provision and include the conditions of the provision.
(2) The contestable period shall be no greater than two years from the date of issue during the lifetime of the insured.
(3) The contract may allow a separate contestable period no greater than two years after the date of any change requiring underwriting. The contest shall be limited to the change and the statements provided for the change.
(4) Coverage may only be contested based on a statement contained in an application made a part of the contract. If the company expects to rely on an application to contest the policy, the company shall attach to or endorse the application as part of the policy. The statement on which the contest is based shall be material to the risk accepted or the hazard assumed by the company.
(5) The policy may only include the following exceptions to the incontestability provision:
(a) Non-payment of premium;
(b) At the option of the company, provisions related to benefits in the event of total and permanent disability and provisions related to accidental death benefit coverage; and
(c) Fraud in the procurement of the policy, when permitted by applicable law in the state where the policy is delivered or issued for delivery.
(6) A preliminary term coverage to precede another plan of insurance may contain incontestability provisions and the successor plan shall compute the time period from the date of issue of the preliminary term coverage.
(7) Policy forms shall not contain an incontestability provision that excludes the riders that may be attached to the form unless those riders contain their own incontestability provisions.
(8) A policy that is reinstated may be contested in accordance with Paragraph (8) of the Reinstatement section.
(1) A policy may include a legal action provision. If included, the provision shall state that a legal cause of action related to the policy shall comply with the laws of the state where the policy was delivered or issued for delivery.
N. LOANS
(1) A policy that develops cash value shall provide for a loan provision.
(2) The policy shall contain the conditions of a loan, including:
(a) A statement shall be included that the policy shall be the sole security of the loan.
(b) The loan value shall be equal to the cash value, plus the cash value of any dividend additions. The loan value or loan proceeds may be adjusted by:
i. Either (1) reducing the loan value at the end of the policy year by no more than three months current expense and current cost of insurance charges or; (2) projecting the loan value at the guaranteed crediting rate from the date of the loan to the following policy anniversary assuming no premiums and no withdrawals and then discounting back at the loan interest rate; and deducting any or all of the following:
a. the amount of any existing indebtedness including any due and accrued interest;
b. any unpaid premiums to the end of the current policy year;
c. interest in advance to the end of the current policy year.
(c) The owner has the option to take less than the loan value, subject to a reasonable company minimum loan requirement.
(d) The policy shall describe the loan interest rate. The loan interest rate, including any added administrative fees associated with the loan, shall be at a maximum fixed annual rate of 8% in arrears or a variable rate determined in accordance with the NAIC Model Policy Loan Interest Rate Bill, model #590. The company may not charge any additional fees or expenses for the loan.
(e) The policy may provide that if interest on any indebtedness is not paid when due it shall be added to the existing indebtedness and shall bear interest at a rate no greater than the loan rate.
(f) The policy shall permit repayment of the loan and describe any conditions related thereto.
(g) The policy shall describe the effect of outstanding loans on the death benefit and cash value.
(h) The policy may provide that if and when the total indebtedness including interest due and accrued equals or exceeds the cash value of the policy plus the cash value of any dividend additions then the policy shall terminate, but not until at least 30 days’ advance notice of termination shall have been mailed to the owner and any assignee of record. Upon termination any dividend accumulations shall be paid to the owner.
(3) The policy shall contain a statement that the company reserves the right to defer the payment of any loan for six months after application for the loan is received by the company except for any loan made to pay premiums due to the company.
(4) The interest rate credited to the portion of the account value equal to the loan balance shall not be less than the minimum guaranteed interest rate in the policy.
(5) The policy shall state how a deposit not designated as a premium or loan repayment will be treated if a loan is outstanding. Payments may be automatically applied as loan payments unless equal to the scheduled premium.
(6) A loan shall be available after the policy has a cash value.
(7) If the policy allows for an automatic premium loan, the policy shall state that the automatic premium loan is subject to owner election. The policy shall be clear in describing the premium mode to be loaned automatically, and shall state what shall occur if the loan value available is insufficient for the designated premium mode.
(1) The maturity date for a current assumption whole life policy may be extended beyond the terminal age of the applicable valuation mortality table based on the following conditions:
(a) There shall be a policy provision indicating that there will be no cost of insurance charges beyond the terminal age of the valuation table. The provision shall also indicate that no further premium payments will be accepted after such age, except amounts required to keep the policy in force under the grace period.
(b) A prominent disclosure statement shall be provided in the policy indicating that the policy may not qualify as life insurance under federal tax law after the insured reaches the terminal age of the valuation table, may be subject to adverse tax consequences, and that a tax advisor should be consulted before the owner chooses to continue the policy after the insured reaches the terminal age of the valuation table.
(c) The policy shall clearly indicate whether partial withdrawals can continue to be made after the terminal age of the valuation table. New policy loans and loan repayments shall be permitted. Interest will continue to accrue on and be added to any outstanding loan balance.
(d) The policy death benefit after the terminal age of the valuation table shall be at least the cash value.
(1) The policy shall contain a misstatement of age provision or, if the policy is written on a sex distinct basis, a misstatement of age or sex provision. The policy shall describe the method of adjusting values and benefits, which shall be by the following method:
(a) (i) The company shall recalculate the account value since the inception of the policy to the extent that the recalculation, in and of itself, shall not result in termination of the policy prior to the date of death. If the policy terminates as a result of the recalculation, this method of recalculation may not be used.
(ii) The company shall assume when making an adjustment at the time of surrender, maturity, or death that the death benefit in all preceding years is the actual death benefit that would have been paid under the corrected age of the insured had death occurred in any preceding year. The company may not use guaranteed assumptions in the calculations, but shall use the actual assumptions applied to the policy during the recalculated period.
(b) The company shall provide that the amount payable on death and the guaranteed cash value shall be such as the most recent required premium would have purchased at the correct age or the correct age and sex.
(2) If the misstatement of age or misstatement of age and sex provision uses terminology such as “proceeds” which could be interpreted to mean more than the death benefit, then the provision shall describe how each benefit or value accruing will be adjusted or indicate that no adjustment will be made.
(3) If spouse or children coverage is part of the policy, the provision may refer to an adjustment of the duration of the benefits.
(4) If more than one life is insured, the misstatement provision may provide that the amount payable on death or the amount of monthly deduction payable may be adjusted due to the misstatement in the age or the age or sex, as appropriate, of any insured.
(5) The company may not terminate coverage and refund premiums if the correct age is outside the issue age ranges of the form. A mortality charge, premium and benefit shall be extrapolated.
Q. MISSTATEMENT OF SMOKING STATUS
(1) In lieu of the right to contest the policy based on a misstatement of smoking status, the policy may provide during the first two policy years for an adjustment due to a misstatement of smoking status. The policy shall describe the method of adjusting values and benefits, which shall conform to the method described in the Misstatement of Age or Sex provision.
R. NONFORFEITURE VALUES—POLICY PROVISIONS
(1) The value available for loans, surrender and nonforfeiture benefits shall be the cash value, which is the greater of: (i) the account value less any surrender charge and (ii) the guaranteed cash value.
(2) The policy shall clearly describe how the account value, cash value, cash surrender value or any other value under the policy is calculated, and indicate which cost factors used in the calculations are subject to adjustment. The right to adjust the cost factor is limited by cost factor guarantees and the adjustment shall be based on future anticipated or emerging experience.
(3) The policy shall specify the experience factors upon which any indeterminate charges are adjusted. “Experience factors” means a factor experienced by the company that is variable in nature and impacts the profitability of the policy. Depending on the policy design, experience factors may include, but are not limited to, investment earnings, mortality, persistency, taxes and expenses.
(4) The policy shall state the guaranteed factors of mortality, expense and interest, In addition to a table of mortality charges (cost of insurance rates), the policy shall indicate that a statement of the basis of the charges and the method of computation has been filed with the Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Commission. The policy shall also define the net amount at risk used to determine the cost of insurance charge.
(5) The policy shall provide a statement of the method used by the company in calculating the account values.
(a) The procedure for the crediting of interest to the account value shall be clearly described.
(b) The order of application of charges and credits shall be described.
(c) All related terms shall be fully defined.
(6) In any policy under which additional amounts may be credited, the policy shall state that additional amounts are nonforfeitable after crediting except indirectly due to surrender charges made. The policy shall state that additional amounts, if any, will be credited no less frequently than annually.
(7) Interest shall not be charged on cost of insurance, expense and partial withdrawal deductions for a period prior to the date of deduction. If interest is charged on cost of insurance, expense and partial withdrawals from the date of deduction, the policy shall provide that interest shall be credited on premium payments from the date of payment.
(8) The initial issue age at which the surrender charges differ by smoking status shall be the same as the initial issue age at which the cost of insurance rates differ by smoking status.
(9) The policy shall contain provisions at least as favorable to the defaulting or surrendering owner as the following:
(a) A provision that in the event of default of premium on a policy when the cash surrender value is greater than zero, the company will provide upon request no later than 60 days after the due premium date, a paid-up nonforfeiture benefit on a plan stipulated in the policy, effective as of the due date. In lieu of the stipulated paid-up nonforfeiture benefit, the company may substitute, upon proper request not later than 60 days after the due date of the premium in default, an actuarially equivalent alternative paid-up nonforfeiture benefit that provides a greater amount or longer period of death benefits, or if applicable, a greater amount or earlier payment of endowment benefits.
(b) A provision that upon surrender of the policy within 60 days after the due date of any premium payment in default after premiums have been paid for at least three full years the company will pay, in lieu of any paid-up nonforfeiture benefit, a cash value.
(c) A provision that a specified paid-up nonforfeiture benefit shall become effective unless the person entitled to make the election elects another available option no later than 60 days after the due date of the premium in default.
(d) A provision that if the policy becomes paid up by completion of all premium payments or is continued under any paid-up nonforfeiture benefit which became effective on or after the third policy anniversary the company will pay upon policy surrender within 30 days after any policy anniversary, a cash value.
(e) A statement of the mortality table and interest rate used in calculating the cash values and the paid-up nonforfeiture benefits available under the policy, together with a table showing the cash value, if any, and paid-up nonforfeiture benefits, if any, available under the policy on each policy anniversary either during the first 20 years or during the term of the policy, whichever is shorter, such values and benefits to be calculated upon the assumption that there are no dividends or paid-up additions credited to the policy and that there is no indebtedness to the company on the policy. The statement of the mortality table shall be complete (e.g. whether sex distinct or unisex, smoker or nonsmoker, or age nearest birthday or age last birthday).
(f) A statement that any cash values and paid-up nonforfeiture benefits available under the policy are not less than the minimum values and benefits required by or pursuant to Section 6B of the NAIC Universal Life Insurance Regulation, model #585.
(g) A detailed statement of the method of computation of the values and benefits or a statement that such method of computation has been filed with the Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Commission.
(h) An explanation of the manner in which the cash values and the paid-up nonforfeiture benefits are altered by the existence of any paid-up additions credited to the policy or any indebtedness to the company on the policy.
(i) A statement of the method to be used in calculating the cash value and paid-up nonforfeiture benefit available under the policy on any policy anniversary beyond the last anniversary for which such values and benefits are consecutively shown in the policy.
(j) A statement that the company reserves the right to defer the payment of any cash surrender value for six months after demand with surrender of the policy.
(10) A provision that the owner may surrender the policy for the cash surrender value at any time, and if surrendered within 30 days following a policy anniversary that the value available shall not be less than the anniversary value.
(11) A provision that any cash surrender value and any paid up nonforfeiture benefit, available under the policy in the event of default in premium payment due at any time other than on a policy anniversary, shall be calculated with allowance for lapse of time and the payment of fractional premiums from the last preceding policy anniversary.
(1) The policy shall contain an ownership provision. The provision shall describe the procedures for designating or changing the owner and indicating when the designation is effective. The policy shall not include any restriction on change of owner other than for purposes of satisfying applicable laws or regulations.
(2) The policy shall state that changes in owner designation, unless otherwise specified by the owner, shall take effect on the date the notice of change is signed by the owner, subject to any payments made or actions taken by the company prior to receipt of this notice.
(3) The policy shall describe how contingent owner and joint owner provision operate, if being made available.
Drafting Note: Restrictions on change of owner in policy forms such as right of first refusal or first offer provisions are prohibited by Item (1).
(1) The policy may allow for partial withdrawals, which shall be described in a separate provision.
(2) The policy shall describe all charges and limits in amount applicable to the withdrawal, and the affect if any such withdrawal will have on the account value and specified amount.
(3) The policy may allow the company to defer payment of a partial withdrawal for six months.
(4) If a portion of the surrender charge is collected for a partial withdrawal, the policy shall disclose how this charge is calculated and that a corresponding reduction will be made in subsequent surrender charges.
A policy may be non-participating; however, if the policy is participating in the divisible surplus of the company, then the following shall apply:
(1) The conditions of the participation shall be included in the policy.
(2) The policy shall provide that the company shall annually ascertain and apportion any divisible surplus, beginning not later than the third year.
(3) The policy shall provide that the owner may receive any dividend payment in cash or as a reduction in premium payments. Other dividend options may be provided in the policy.
(4) The policy shall provide for an automatic dividend option if more than one dividend option is provided. If the policy provides for more than one dividend option, the policy shall identify the automatic option.
(5) Any additional supplemental benefits attached to a participating policy, whether or not considered in determining surplus earnings, may not be specially labeled or described as non-participating.
(6) Whenever one-year term insurance is purchased by dividends in connection with a policy, the policy shall provide for the return of the unearned charge in the event of termination of the policy (other than by death) prior to the expiration of such one year term insurance.
(7) The policy shall state that any dividend accumulations and the cash value of any paid up dividend additions shall be paid to the owner upon termination of the policy.
V. PAYMENT OF PREMIUM
(1) There shall be a provision for payment of premiums. Any policy fees shall be identified.
(2) The policy shall provide for payment of the initial premium in advance of the policy becoming effective.
(3) The policy shall provide for the refund of the excess of any premium payment made over the maximum amount that could be paid without disqualifying the policy as life insurance under Section 7702 of the Internal Revenue Code. However, the premium shall not be refunded if it is necessary to continue coverage.
(4) The policy may contain a premium payment option whereby premiums may be paid from the excess of the cash value over the guaranteed cash value to keep the policy in full force on a premium paying basis. The following requirements shall apply to this option:
(i) Premiums shall be paid only from the excess of the cash value over the guaranteed cash value. Premiums shall not be paid from the guaranteed cash value. The prospective guaranteed cash value shall be maintained since the policy is being maintained on a premium paying basis.
(ii) When an additional premium is due in order to keep the policy in force on a premium paying basis, the company shall mail a notice to the owner no sooner than 30 days before the premium due date. A grace period of 60 days from the mailing date of the notice shall be provided for payment of the premium. The additional premium due cannot exceed the guaranteed premium for the policy. The premium mode, for purposes of premium due date and amount of premium, shall be that selected by the owner at issue of the policy.
(iii) If the additional premium to keep the policy in force on a premium- paying basis is not paid within the grace period, the usual non-forfeiture provision shall apply unless automatic premium loan has been included to protect against lapse. These provisions shall include rights to reinstatement.
(iv) Additional premiums shall not be permitted after the policy has lapsed and is being continued under a nonforfeiture benefit.
(1) The policy may contain a provision allowing the owner to increase or decrease the specified amount. The policy shall permit the company to require evidence of insurability if, at the time of policy adjustment, the net amount at risk is increased or changed from a decreasing amount to a non-decreasing amount. Otherwise, an adjustment shall not be subject to evidence of insurability.
(2) Automatic increases in the specified amount (i.e., increases that occur by operation of the policy and not by owner request) shall not be subject to evidence of insurability.
(3) If the owner has the right to change the basic coverage, any limitation on the amount or timing (including age or frequency limits) of such changes shall be disclosed in the policy. If the owner has the right to increase the basic coverage, the policy shall disclose whether a new period of contestability, if evidence of insurability was required for the increased coverage, and/or a suicide exclusion is applicable to the additional coverage. If a minimum specified amount is necessary to maintain the policy in force, then that amount shall be defined in the policy.
(4) The maximum surrender charges and the maximum age for increases shall be described in the form at issue.
(5) The guaranteed maximum cost of insurance rates for increased amounts should not change unless the insured’s risk class has changed.
(6) If a portion of the surrender charge is collected for a decrease in specified amount, the policy shall disclose how this charge is calculated and that a corresponding reduction will be made in subsequent surrender charges.
(7) The policy shall provide that it will refund the excess of any premium payment made over the maximum amount that could be paid without disqualifying the policy as life insurance under Section 7702 of the Internal Revenue Code. However, such premium shall not be refunded if it is necessary to continue coverage.
(8) The policy shall define the order in which any decrease in specified amount would apply to any increases in specified amount and to the initial specified amount.
(9) The policy shall state that the policy will be amended or endorsed to reflect the adjustment and its effect upon policy features, including any increase, decrease or other adjustment to the amount or type of coverage, expense charges, surrender charges and/or cost of insurance rates, if applicable. Alternatively, the Additional Submission Requirements may include a certification that the policy will be so amended or endorsed.
(1) The policy shall contain a reinstatement provision with respect to policies for which the grace period has elapsed and include the conditions of the reinstatement.
(2) The period of reinstatement may not be less than three years from the date of lapse.
(3) Evidence of insurability may be required.
(4) Payment of overdue premiums may be required. Interest may be charged on overdue premiums at a rate not exceeding 6%.
(5) If applicable, repayment/reinstatement of any policy loan may be required with interest rates not exceeding the interest rates as permitted in the loan provision of the policy.
(6) If the policy imposes charges for a limited period of time (for example, surrender charges on the account value), the reinstatement provision shall state whether and in what manner the charges will be imposed on the reinstated policy. Otherwise, no charges shall be applicable with respect to the reinstatement policy.
(7) The policy shall describe how the account value will be determined upon reinstatement. If the account value and any loan value are reinstated, interest shall be credited to the account value consistent with any interest charges on the loan during the period of lapse.
(8) With respect to any reinstated policy, the following applies:
(a) With respect to statements made in an application for reinstatement, the policy is incontestable after it has been in force during the insured’s lifetime for two years beginning with the day of reinstatement. The contestable period is based only on statements in the reinstatement application, unless the original contestable period has not yet expired. The reinstated policy may include an exception to the incontestability provision for fraud in the procurement of the reinstated policy when permitted by applicable law in the state where the policy is delivered or issued for delivery.
(b) The suicide exclusion shall not exceed two years from the day of reinstatement, or any shorter period as may be required by applicable law in the state where the policy is delivered or issued for delivery.
(c) If a policy contains a reinstatement provision or other policy provision that references the subject matter of Paragraph (8)(a) and/or (8)(b), the policy references shall be consistent with Paragraph (8)(a) and/or (8)(b).
(1) Periodic Report
(a) The policy shall provide for the delivery, at least annually and without charge, of a report to the owner which serves to keep such owner advised as to the status of the policy, and which provides any other information required under state or federal law, including the requirements of Items (b) and (c) below.
(b) The status report of the policy shall provide current information as of a date not more than four months prior to the date of mailing.
(c) The policy shall state that the report shall contain at least the following information:
(i) The beginning and end dates of the current report period.
(ii) The account value, if any, at the beginning of the current report period and at the end of the current report period.
(iii) The amounts that have been credited or debited to the account value during the current report period. The credited and debited amounts must be identified by type; for example, premium payments, interest credits, bonus credits, persistency credits, cost of insurance charges, expense charges, withdrawal amounts, withdrawal charges and cost of rider(s).
(iv) The current death benefit at the end of the current report period on each life covered by the policy.
(v) The cash value, if any, at the end of the current report period.
(vi) The amount of outstanding loans, if any, at the end of the current report period.
(vii) For a policy that does not require payment of a scheduled premium, if assuming guaranteed interest, mortality and expense loads, the policy's cash surrender value will not maintain insurance in force until the end of the next reporting period unless further premium payments are made, a notice to this effect must be included in the report.
(viii) For a policy that requires payment of a scheduled premium, if assuming guaranteed interest, mortality and expense loads and continued scheduled premium payments, the policy's cash surrender value is such that it would not maintain insurance in force until the end of the next reporting period, a notice to this effect must be included in the report.
(2) Illustrative Report
(a) The policy shall provide for the delivery, at least annually and without charge, of an illustrative report, which will be sent to the owner upon request.
(b) The company may charge the owner a reasonable fee after the first report per year is provided at no cost. The maximum fee shall be identified in the policy.
(1) The Right to Examine Policy provision appearing on the cover page or that is visible without opening the policy shall include the following:
(i) If the policy is not a replacement policy, a period of ten days beginning on the date the policy is received by the owner, and at the discretion of the company a longer period may be filed; or
(ii) If the policy is a replacement policy, a minimum of thirty days beginning on the date the policy is received by the owner, or any longer period as may be required by applicable law in the state where the policy is delivered or issued for delivery;
(b) A requirement for the return of the policy to the company or an agent of the company. Policy is considered void from the beginning and the parties shall be in the same position as if no policy had been issued;
(c) A refund of all premiums paid, including any fees or charges, if the policy is returned.
(1) The policy shall contain a description of type(s) and form(s) of settlement option provided in the policy. The guaranteed interest rate and mortality table, if applicable, being utilized for a designated settlement option shall be identified in the policy. In lieu of the interest rate and mortality table disclosure, complete tables of guaranteed settlement option amounts may be included in the policy.
(2) The policy shall contain a provision stating that any annuity benefits at the time of their commencement will not be less than those that would be provided by the application of the proceeds to purchase a single consideration immediate annuity contract at purchase rates offered by the company at the time to the same class of annuitants whether the annuity benefits are payable in fixed or variable amounts or both, if the company offers a single consideration annuity contract at the time to the same class of annuitants.
BB. SUICIDE
(1) The policy may provide for a suicide exclusion, which may include the phrase “sane or insane.”
(2) The suicide exclusion shall include the conditions of the provision.
(3) The suicide exclusion period shall not exceed two years from the date of issue of the policy or any shorter period as may be required by applicable law in the state where the policy is delivered or issued for delivery.
(4) At a minimum, a refund of all premiums paid, less dividends paid and any indebtedness, shall be paid by the company in the event of death by suicide during the suicide exclusion period.
§ 4 ADDITIONAL STANDARDS FOR FRATERNAL BENEFIT SOCIETIES
The policy may include the following provisions:
(1) The certificate may include a provision stating that the insured and/or owner is a member and that the form that has been issued to evidence coverage is a certificate of membership and insurance.
(1) The certificate may include a provision setting forth the legal rights and obligations in the case of a fraternal’s financial impairment.
§ 5 SPECIALIZED PRODUCTS/MARKETING
A. INDETERMINATE PREMIUM POLICY
(1) ADDITIONAL SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
(a) The filing shall include:
(i) A certification that the same initial rating classes will apply when premiums are adjusted under the premium change provision; and
(ii) Guaranteed periods for current premium.
(a) The brief description shall disclose that the policy is an indeterminate premium policy or that the policy contains a change of premiums provision.
(b) The policy shall contain a complete table of guaranteed maximum premiums. The premiums shall be annual premiums or the premiums for the mode elected by the owner.
(c) The policy shall disclose on the specifications page the amount and period of time for which the current and/or initial premium is guaranteed.
(d) Any premium shown on the specifications page or in the policy that is subject to change in accordance with the premium change provision shall be so noted on the specifications page or in the proximity of the premium.
(e) The policy shall contain a premium change provision. The provision shall provide that any premiums after the initial premium may be changed, subject to the table of guaranteed maximum premiums. The provision shall disclose the frequency of premium change and that any change will be by class. If any current scale premium is shown on the specifications page or in the policy, the nonguaranteed nature of the premium shall be noted in the proximity of the current scale premium.
(f) The premium change provision shall state that the adjustment in premium is based on future anticipated or emerging experience. The provision shall specify the experience factors upon which any indeterminate premiums are adjusted. “Experience factors” means a factor experienced by the company that is variable in nature and impacts the profitability of the policy. Depending on the policy design, experience factors may include, but are not limited to, investment earnings, mortality, persistency, taxes and expenses.
(g) The premium change provision shall disclose the effect of the provision on any attached riders.
B. POLICY PROVIDING FOR PAYMENT OF PROCEEDS IN INSTALLMENTS
(1) Death benefit shall always be available in a lump sum and installments are optional. If policy proceeds are paid in installments that are determinable prior to the policy maturity, the policy shall contain a table showing the amount of the guaranteed installments.
(2) A policy that provides installments may provide the owner with the right to commute the installments. If commutation is permitted, the commutation basis should be in the policy.
§6 JOINT FIRST TO DIE STANDARDS
Scope: These standards apply to joint first to die coverage where two insureds are insured and the death benefit is payable upon the first death.
As used in these standards the following definitions apply:
“Joint equal issue age” or “equivalent equal age” is the age used for the determination of policy benefits and values and is determined using the individual issue ages of the insureds covered under the policy.
A. ACTUARIAL MEMORANDUM REQUIREMENTS
The Paragraph B. (1)(a), (c), (d), and (g) requirements under §1 Additional Submission Requirements are replaced with the items below.
(1) Include an actuarial memorandum prepared, dated and signed by the member of the American Academy of Actuaries who provides the following information concerning the determination of the nonforfeiture values (including both cash surrender values and paid-up nonforfeiture values):
(a) (i) Sample calculations at various issue ages involving two insureds illustrating the determination that the values of the policy comply with the minimums required by Section 6.B. of the NAIC Universal Life Insurance Regulation, model #585. Sample calculations shall be performed for representative issue ages including issue age 35 if within the issue age range and, if applicable, at least one issue age where the payment of required premiums and the application of the policy guarantees with respect to expense charges, interest credits, and mortality charges would cause the policy cash value to exceed the initial death benefit under the policy at some point in the future prior to the maturity date. The demonstration shall be performed at time of issue and assume the payment of all future required premiums under the policy and expense charges, interest credits, and mortality charges equal to the guarantees in the policy
(ii) The sample calculations should be prepared for three situations: (i) two insureds, each age 35 (any rate classes may be used), or other representative issue age if the policy is not available at age 35; (ii) one insured of the maximum issue age available under the policy and one insured of the same rate class but of a lesser issue age with that lesser issue age determined using the maximum age differential permitted by the company between insureds; (iii) one insured of the minimum issue age available under the policy and one insured of the same rate class but of an older issue age with that older issue age determined using the maximum age differential permitted by the company between insureds.
(c) Identification and description of the source of the applicable mortality tables that are the
basis of guaranteed maximum cost of the insurance rates. The methodology applicable for determining the rates and insured ages must be the same as that used in developing the mortality table used in demonstrating compliance with the minimums required by Section 6B of the NAIC Universal Life Insurance Regulation, model #585;
(d) The guaranteed maximum cost of insurance rates for two insureds, age 35, one male and
one female (any combination of underwriting classes available under the policy may be used). If the policy is not available at age 35, another issue age appropriate to the issue age range under the policy may be used to satisfy the requirements of this Item (d). Any formula consistent with generally accepted actuarial methodologies and applicable Actuarial Standards of Practice may be used to convert the guaranteed maximum annual cost of insurance rates to their equivalent modal guaranteed maximum cost of insurance rates provided such modal rates do not exceed the lesser of:
{1 - (1 – q[t])^(1/n)} / {(1 – q[t])^(1/n)} or 1/n
where n equals the number of cost of insurance deductions from the account value per year and q[t] is the annual mortality rate from the applicable table for year t of the policy;
(g) Identification of the mortality table used in demonstrating compliance with the minimums required by Section 6B of the NAIC Universal Life Insurance Regulation, model #585. The smoker/nonsmoker mortality tables in the NAIC Model Rule (Regulation) Permitting Smoker/Nonsmoker Mortality Tables For Use In Determining Minimum Reserve Liabilities And Nonforfeiture Benefits, or the mortality rates which are a blend of the male and female rates in the NAIC Procedure For Permitting Same Minimum Nonforfeiture Standards For Men and Women Insured Under 1980 CSO And 1980 CET Mortality Tables, or any other mortality tables approved for use by the NAIC in determining minimum nonforfeiture values, may be used in determining minimum nonforfeiture values. The actuarial memorandum should also include a description of the methodology to be used for determining the ages to be used for determining the mortality rates (for example, exact ages and rate classes, equivalent equal age, table of uniform seniority, or joint equal issue ages). The methodology should be described in a generally accepted publication of the actuarial profession, and information adequate to support its general acceptance and validity shall be included with the filing. If applicable for the policy form submitted, for issue ages less than that for which rates are nonsmoker/smoker distinct, the composite version of the mortality table shall be used for demonstrating compliance.
The Paragraph A. (9) under §2 General Form Requirements is added.
(9) The caption shall also include a reference to Joint First to Die coverage and indicate that the insurance is payable on the death of the first insured to die.
The Paragraph B. (1) under §2 General Form Requirements is replaced with the paragraph below.
(1) The specifications page shall include the benefits, amounts, durations, premium information, and any other benefit data applicable to the insureds. The specifications page shall list the actual ages of all insureds along with, if applicable, the joint equal issue age or equivalent equal age.
The Paragraph G. (4) under §3 Policy Provisions is replaced with the paragraph below and Paragraph (5) is new.
(4) The policy may require that due proof of the death of the first insured to die will consist of a certified copy of the death certificate of the insured, or other lawful evidence providing equivalent information, and proof of the claimant’s interest in the proceeds.
(5) The policy shall state that the death benefit is payable upon the death of the first insured to die.
The Paragraph L. (2) under §3 Policy Provisions is replaced with the paragraph below.
(2) The contestable period shall be no greater than two years from the date of issue during the lifetime of the first insured to die.
The Paragraph O. (1)(e) under §3 Policy Provisions is added.
(1) (e) The age for maturity shall be based on the age of the youngest insured.
G. MISSTATEMENT OF SMOKING STATUS
The Paragraph Q. (1) under §3 Policy Provisions is replaced with the paragraph below.
(1) In lieu of the right to contest the policy based on a misstatement of smoking status, the policy may provide during the first two policy years for an adjustment due to a misstatement of smoking status of an insured. The adjusted death benefit shall be that amount which would have been purchased at the correct smoking status in consideration of the most recent mortality charge by adjusting the net amount at risk by the ratio of the incorrect cost of insurance rate to the correct cost of insurance rate. In this instance the company shall not make any retrospective recalculations to the account value. The company may adjust future months’ deductions so as to reflect the corrected smoking status.
Appendix A
Flesch Methodology
The following measuring method shall be used in determining the Flesch score:
(1) For policy forms containing 10,000 words or less of text, the entire form shall be analyzed. For policy forms containing more than 10,000 words, the readability of two, 200-word samples per page may be analyzed instead of the entire form. The sample shall be separated by at least 20 printed lines.
(2) The number of words and sentences in the text shall be counted and the total number of words divided by the total number of sentences. The figure obtained shall be multiplied by a factor of 1.015.
(3) The total number of syllables shall be counted and divided by the total number of words. The figure obtained shall be multiplied by a factor of 84.6.
(4) The sum of the figures computed under (2) and (3) subtracted from 206.835 equals the Flesch reading ease score for the policy form.
(5) For purposes of (2), (3), and (4), the following procedures shall be used:
(a) A contraction, hyphenated word, or numbers and letters, when separated by spaces, shall be counted as one word;
(b) A unit of words ending with a period, semicolon, or colon, but excluding headings and captions, shall be counted as a sentence; and
(c) A syllable means a unit of spoken language consisting of one or more letters of a word as divided by an accepted dictionary. Where the dictionary shows two or more equally acceptable pronunciations of a word, the pronunciation containing fewer syllables may be used.
(6) The term “text” as used in this section shall include all printed matter except the following:
(a) The name and address of the company; the name, number or title of the policy; the table of contents or index; captions and sub-captions; specifications pages, schedules or tables; and;
(b) Any policy language which is drafted to conform to the requirements of any federal law or regulation; any policy language required by any collectively bargained agreement; any medical terminology; any words which are defined in the policy; and any policy language required by law or regulation; provided, however, the company identifies the language or terminology excepted by the paragraph and certifies, in writing, that the language or terminology is entitled to be excepted by this paragraph.
(7) At the option of the company, riders, endorsements, applications and other forms made a part of the policy may be scored as separate forms or as part of the policy with which they may be used.
Appendix B
Fraternal Benefit Societies
Fraternal Benefit Societies (“fraternals”) are subject to separate fraternal codes in all jurisdictions due to their unique structure, operations and legal obligations. The Drafting Notes included under the Scope, AMENDMENTS, ARBITRATION and ENTIRE CONTRACT standards, the section entitled ADDITIONAL STANDARDS FOR FRATERNAL BENEFIT SOCIETIES, and Appendix C are included in the standards to allow fraternals to experience the benefits of participating in the single point of filing and review process that the Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Commission offers, without jeopardizing their ability to meet their unique obligations and to operate as required or permitted by law.
By law, a fraternal is defined by five basic elements:
1. One without capital stock;
2. One conducted solely for the benefit of its members and their beneficiaries by providing life, health and annuity benefits and by operating one or more social, educational, charitable, patriotic, or religious purposes for the benefit of members and others;
3. One that is a benevolent and charitable institution and not for profit;
4. One operated on a lodge system that may carry out charitable and other activities; and
5. One that has a representative form of government with a governing body and direct election of its members.
The laws governing fraternals impact the standards in several ways. Fraternals are required by law to issue insurance contracts that incorporate the laws of the Society and the application for membership. Thus, the contract must consist not only of the policy or certificate issued, and the application for insurance, but also the application for membership and the articles and bylaws. Further, the laws governing fraternals require or permit that the articles and bylaws address the structure of lodges, membership requirements, form of governance, grievance procedures, and eligible beneficiaries. Any amendments to the articles or bylaws made after issuance of a certificate must be applied consistently to all members retroactively. However, no amendment shall eliminate or reduce contractual benefits.
By law, fraternals are membership organizations. Because of this, the law refers to the insurance forms issued to members of a fraternal as “certificates” or “certificates of membership and insurance”. Further, due to the membership requirements, fraternal certificates often include a provision stating that the insured and/or owner is a member and that the form that has been issued to evidence coverage is a certificate of membership and insurance. In addition, fraternal certificates may include a Maintenance of Solvency provision setting forth the legal rights and obligations in the case of a fraternal’s financial impairment.
Effective on 04/3/2023
The purpose of these amendments is to address a specific conflict between a Colorado statute and the Uniform Standards with respect to the length of the suicide exclusion. The Product Standards Committee identified two sections in the individual and group life insurance Uniform Standards—the Reinstatement and Suicide provisions—and suggested amendments to maintain a maximum suicide exclusion period of up to two years and to include an exception for a shorter maximum suicide exclusion period where required by state law. See the link for Transmittal memo for a more detailed description of the proposed amendments. This rule would amend the following Uniform Standards:
INDIVIDUAL TERM LIFE PRODUCT LINE
- Individual Term Life Insurance Policy Standards
- Individual Single Premium Term Life Insurance Policy Standards
- Individual Joint Last to Die Survivorship Term Life Insurance Policy Standards
- Individual Single Premium Joint Last to Die Survivorship Term Life Insurance Policy Standards
INDIVIDUAL WHOLE LIFE PRODUCT LINE
- Individual Whole Life Insurance Policy Standards
- Individual Single Premium Whole Life Insurance Policy Standards
- Individual Joint Last to Die Survivorship Whole Life Insurance Policy Standards
- Individual Single Premium Joint Last to Die Survivorship Whole Life Insurance Policy Standards
- Individual Current Assumption Whole Life Insurance Policy Standards
INDIVIDUAL ENDOWMENT INSURANCE PRODUCT LINE
- Individual Endowment Insurance Policy Standards
- Individual Single Premium Endowment Insurance Policy Standards
- Individual Joint Last to Die Survivorship Endowment Insurance Policy Standards
- Individual Single Premium Joint Last to Die Survivorship Endowment Insurance Policy Standards
INDIVIDUAL NON-VARIABLE ADJUSTABLE LIFE INSURANCE PRODUCT LINE
- Individual Flexible Premium Adjustable Life Insurance Policy Standards (Universal Life)
- Individual Joint Last to Die Survivorship Flexible Premium Adjustable Life Insurance Policy Standards
- Individual Modified Single Premium Adjustable Life Insurance Policy Standards
- Additional Standards for Private Placement Plans for Individual Variable Adjustable Life Insurance Policies
INDIVIDUAL VARIABLE ADJUSTABLE LIFE INSURANCE PRODUCT LINE
- Individual Modified Single Premium Variable Life Insurance Policy Standards
- Individual Modified Single Premium Joint First to Die Variable Life Insurance Policy Standards
- Individual Flexible Premium Variable Adjustable Life Insurance Policy Standards
- Individual Joint Last to Die Survivorship Flexible Premium Variable Adjustable Life Insurance Policy Standards
GROUP TERM LIFE PRODUCT LINE
- Group Term Life Insurance Policy and Certificate Standards for Employer Groups
Effective 4/3/2023
Active
The purpose of these amendments is to address a specific conflict between a Colorado statute and the Uniform Standards with respect to the length of the suicide exclusion. The Product Standards Committee identified two sections in the individual and group life insurance Uniform Standards—the Reinstatement and Suicide provisions—and suggested amendments to maintain a maximum suicide exclusion period of up to two years and to include an exception for a shorter maximum suicide exclusion period where required by state law. See the link for Transmittal memo for a more detailed description of the proposed amendments. This rule would amend the following Uniform Standards:
INDIVIDUAL TERM LIFE PRODUCT LINE
- Individual Term Life Insurance Policy Standards
- Individual Single Premium Term Life Insurance Policy Standards
- Individual Joint Last to Die Survivorship Term Life Insurance Policy Standards
- Individual Single Premium Joint Last to Die Survivorship Term Life Insurance Policy Standards
INDIVIDUAL WHOLE LIFE PRODUCT LINE
- Individual Whole Life Insurance Policy Standards
- Individual Single Premium Whole Life Insurance Policy Standards
- Individual Joint Last to Die Survivorship Whole Life Insurance Policy Standards
- Individual Single Premium Joint Last to Die Survivorship Whole Life Insurance Policy Standards
- Individual Current Assumption Whole Life Insurance Policy Standards
INDIVIDUAL ENDOWMENT INSURANCE PRODUCT LINE
- Individual Endowment Insurance Policy Standards
- Individual Single Premium Endowment Insurance Policy Standards
- Individual Joint Last to Die Survivorship Endowment Insurance Policy Standards
- Individual Single Premium Joint Last to Die Survivorship Endowment Insurance Policy Standards
INDIVIDUAL NON-VARIABLE ADJUSTABLE LIFE INSURANCE PRODUCT LINE
- Individual Flexible Premium Adjustable Life Insurance Policy Standards (Universal Life)
- Individual Joint Last to Die Survivorship Flexible Premium Adjustable Life Insurance Policy Standards
- Individual Modified Single Premium Adjustable Life Insurance Policy Standards
- Additional Standards for Private Placement Plans for Individual Variable Adjustable Life Insurance Policies
INDIVIDUAL VARIABLE ADJUSTABLE LIFE INSURANCE PRODUCT LINE
- Individual Modified Single Premium Variable Life Insurance Policy Standards
- Individual Modified Single Premium Joint First to Die Variable Life Insurance Policy Standards
- Individual Flexible Premium Variable Adjustable Life Insurance Policy Standards
- Individual Joint Last to Die Survivorship Flexible Premium Variable Adjustable Life Insurance Policy Standards
GROUP TERM LIFE PRODUCT LINE
- Group Term Life Insurance Policy and Certificate Standards for Employer Groups
Effective 12/5/2016
to 4/2/2023
Inactive
The purpose of this rule is to amend the Exclusions subsection of Section 3 Policy Provisions of certain Uniform Standards. The amendment deletes Subsection (1)(a)(ii) of the war exclusion provision. The amendment eliminates confusion and further clarifies that the Uniform Standards do not permit life insurance policies to contain a death benefit exclusion for known members of the military that die as a result of any act related to military service. Additionally, the term "United States" will be added to Subsection (1)(a)( i) to clarify that this prohibition on war exclusions applies to members of the United States military, military reserves or the National Guard and not members of the military of another nation.
Effective 12/4/2014
to 12/4/2016
Inactive
The purpose of this amendment is to revise the Individual Current Assumption Whole Life Insurance Policy Standards and Conforming Amendments to Individual Adjustable Life Standards in accordance with the 5-year Commission Review of Rules required by § 119 of the Rule for the Adoption, Amendment and Repeal of Rules for the Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Commission. The procedures adopted by the Management Committee in March 2012 for implementing the 5-year review process limit the scope of review under Section 119 to identifying "the need for continuation, repeal or amendment of the rule based primarily on whether circumstances or underlying assumptions have changed since the last time the rule was adopted, amended or reviewed. See the Transmittal Memo for a more detailed description of the proposed amendments.
Effective 12/14/2008
to 12/3/2014
Inactive
Amendments to Actuarial Memorandum Requirements Section
The purpose of this rule is to amend the individual life insurance policy standards to relocate existing submission requirements related to the actuarial memorandum into a separate, independent section of the standards. The objective of this amendment is to improve compliance with the actuarial submission requirements in product filings received by the Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Commission (?IIPRC?) and to simplify the product review and approval process.
Amendment Regarding Actuarial Certification of Compliance
The purpose of this rule is to amend certain uniform standards by clarifying the requirement that certain elements of the actuarial memorandum be certified as compliant with NAIC model laws or regulations. This amendment would affect all individual life insurance policy standards that do not already contain a sample certification.
Amendment Regarding Underwriting Exclusions
The purpose of this rule is to amend the Exclusions section of certain uniform standards. The amendment concerns the method of adding exclusions to a policy such that addition by policy amendment would be permitted, along with the existing methods of rider and endorsement. This amendment would also permit exclusions on the basis of foreign travel and foreign residency, subject to applicable law in the state where the policy is delivered or issued for delivery and subject to the general requirements for adding such exclusions. The amendment also prohibits excluding death benefits on the basis of risk of death as a result of war or activities of military service for applicants identified as members of the military in the application. The general requirements for adding exclusions are provided in the Standards for Forms Used to Exclude Policy Coverage Based on the Underwriting Process and the applicable individual policy standards.
Effective 1/3/2008
to 12/13/2008
Inactive
The Individual Current Assumption Whole Life Insurance Policy Standards (the "Proposed Standards") specify submission requirements, form requirements and policy provisions for individual current assumption whole life insurance, including limited pay policies. The Proposed Standards include required and optional provisions for applicable policy forms, such as any applicable exclusions, death benefit proceeds, grace period, incontestability, loans and right to examine. I'd suggest changing the font in this paragraph to match the others.
Certain portions of the Proposed Standards are also proposed to be conforming amendments to each of the uniform standards adopted by the Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Commission on December 8, 2006: Flexible Premium Adjustable Life Policy Standards, Joint Last to Die Survivorship Flexible Premium Adjustable Life, Flexible Premium Variable Adjustable Life, Joint Last to Die Survivorship Flexible Premium Variable Adjustable Life, and Modified Single Premium Adjustable Life. For further information, please refer to the published notice of the Proposed Standards.