Virginia Law

Article 2. Insurance Classified and Defined.

Insurance is classified and defined as set out in subsequent sections of this article.

1952, c. 317, § 38.1-2; 1986, c. 562.

A. "Life insurance" means insurance upon the lives of human beings. "Life insurance" includes policies that also provide (i) endowment benefits; (ii) additional benefits incidental to a loss in the event of death, dismemberment, or loss by accident or accidental means; (iii) additional benefits to safeguard the contract from lapse or to provide a special surrender value, a special benefit or an annuity, in the event of total and permanent disability of the insured; and (iv) optional modes of settlement of proceeds. As used in this title, unless the context requires otherwise, "life insurance" shall be deemed to include "credit life insurance," "industrial life insurance," "variable life insurance" and "modified guaranteed life insurance."

B. "Life insurance" also includes additional benefits to provide for educational loans, subject to the provisions of § 38.2-3113.3.

C. "Life insurance" also includes additional benefits providing specified disease coverage or limited benefit health coverage, subject to compliance with the minimum standards established by the Commission for such benefits pursuant to § 38.2-3519. Such additional benefits may be combined in an individual policy, or added as a rider to the policy, provided that the insurer offering such additional benefits is licensed to transact the business of accident and sickness insurance and complies with the rate and form filing requirements of the Commission's rules governing the filing of rates for individual and certain group accident and sickness insurance policy forms (14VAC5-130-10 et seq.), as amended.

1952, c. 317, § 38.1-3; 1976, c. 562; 1986, c. 562; 1992, c. 210; 2000, c. 173; 2011, c. 186; 2012, c. 673.

"Credit life insurance" means insurance on the life of a debtor pursuant to or in connection with a specific loan or other credit transaction.

1960, c. 67, § 38.1-482.2; 1982, c. 223; 1986, c. 562.

"Industrial life insurance" means life insurance provided by an individual insurance contract (i) under which premiums are payable at least monthly and (ii) that has the words "industrial policy" printed upon the policy as a part of the descriptive matter.

Code 1950, § 38-433; 1952, c. 317, § 38.1-409; 1986, c. 562.

"Variable life insurance" means any policy or contract of life insurance in which the amount or duration of benefits may vary according to the investment experience of any separate account maintained by the insurer for the policy or contract, as provided for in § 38.2-3113.

1986, c. 562.

"Modified guaranteed life insurance" means any policy or contract of life insurance in which the benefits are guaranteed if held for specified periods and nonforfeiture values are based upon a market-value adjustment formula if held for shorter periods. The formula may or may not reflect the investment experience of any separate account which may be maintained by the insurer for the policy or contract as provided for in § 38.2-3113.1.

1992, c. 210.

"Annuities" means all agreements to make periodic payments in specified or calculable sums pursuant to the terms of a contract for a stated period of time or for the life of the person or persons specified in the contract. "Annuities" does not include contracts defined in § 38.2-102 and qualified charitable gift annuities as defined in § 38.2-106.1.

As used in this title, unless the context requires otherwise, "annuity" shall be deemed to include "variable annuity" and "modified guaranteed annuity," and shall be deemed to include a contract under which a lump sum cash settlement is an alternative to the option of periodic payments.

1952, c. 317, § 38.1-4; 1966, c. 289; 1970, c. 532; 1985, c. 312; 1986, c. 562; 1992, c. 210; 1993, c. 764; 1996, c. 425; 2001, c. 64.

For purposes of this title:

"Charitable gift annuity" means an agreement by a charitable organization to make periodic payments in fixed dollar amounts payable over one or two lives, under which the actuarial value of the annuity, as determined for federal tax purposes, is less than the value of the cash or other property transferred by the donor in return therefor and the difference in value constitutes a charitable contribution for federal tax purposes.

"Charitable organization" means an entity described in:

1. § 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. § 501(c) (3)); or

2. § 170 (c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. § 170 (c)).

"Qualified charitable gift annuity" means a charitable gift annuity that conforms to the requirements of § 501 (m) (5) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. § 501 (m) (5)) and § 514 (c) (5) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. § 514 (c) (5)) and that is issued by a charitable organization that on the date of the annuity agreement:

1. Has a minimum of $100,000 in unrestricted cash, cash equivalents, or publicly traded securities, exclusive of the assets contributed by the donor in return for the annuity agreement; and

2. Has been in continuous operation as a charitable organization for at least three years or is a successor or affiliate of a charitable organization that has been in continuous operation as such for at least three years.

1996, c. 425.

"Variable annuity" means any agreement or contract for an annuity in which the amount or duration of benefits or optional lump sum cash settlement may vary according to the investment experience of any separate account maintained by the insurer for the policy or contract as provided for in § 38.2-3113. Pursuant to the terms of the contract, payments may be made for a stated period of time or for the life of the person or persons specified in the contract.

1986, c. 562; 1993, c. 764.

"Modified guaranteed annuity" means any agreement or contract for an annuity in which the benefits are guaranteed if held for specified periods and nonforfeiture values are based upon a market-value adjustment formula if held for shorter periods. The formula may or may not reflect the investment experience of any separate account which may be maintained by the insurer for the agreement or contract as provided for in § 38.2-3113.1.

1992, c. 210.

"Family leave insurance" means an insurance policy issued to an employer related to a benefit program provided to an employee to pay for a percentage or portion of the employee's income loss due to (i) the birth of a child or adoption of a child by the employee; (ii) placement of a child with the employee for foster care; (iii) care of a family member of the employee who has a serious health condition; or (iv) circumstances arising out of the fact that the employee's family member who is a service member is on active duty or has been notified of an impending call or order to active duty. Family leave insurance may be written as an amendment or rider to a group disability income policy, included in a group disability income policy, or written as a separate group insurance policy purchased by an employer.

2022, cc. 131, 132.

"Credit accident and sickness insurance" means insurance on a debtor to provide for payments on a specific loan or other credit transaction while the debtor is disabled as defined in the policy.

1960, c. 67, § 38.1-482.2; 1982, c. 223; 1986, c. 562.

A. "Accident and sickness insurance" means insurance against loss resulting from sickness, or from bodily injury or death by accident or accidental means, or from a combination of any or all of these perils. As used in this title, unless the context requires otherwise, the term "accident and sickness insurance" shall be deemed to include "credit accident and sickness insurance."

B. The term "accident and sickness insurance" shall also include agreements insuring against losses resulting from health care claims or expenses of health care in excess of a specific or aggregate dollar amount, when such agreements are used to provide coverage to (i) an employee welfare benefit plan or any other plan providing accident and sickness benefits, (ii) a health maintenance organization, or (iii) a provider associated with a managed care network, provided:

1. The agreement clearly discloses the extent and duration of the liability assumed by the insurer once the policyholder's liability has been exceeded; and

2. The insurer maintains reserves in accordance with § 38.2-1314 for the liability it assumes under the agreement.

Such agreements shall not be subject to the requirements of Chapters 34 (§ 38.2-3400 et seq.) and 35 (§ 38.2-3500 et seq.) of this title.

1952, c. 317, § 38.1-5; 1986, c. 562; 1997, c. 28.

"Fire insurance" means insurance against loss of or damage to any property resulting from fire, including loss or damage incident (i) to extinguishing a fire, or (ii) to the salvaging of property in connection with a fire.

1952, c. 317, § 38.1-6; 1986, c. 562.

A. "Miscellaneous property insurance" means insurance against loss of or damage to property resulting from:

1. Lightning, smoke or smudge, windstorm, tornado, cyclone, earthquake, volcanic eruption, rain, hail, frost and freeze, weather or climatic conditions, excess or deficiency of moisture, flood, the rising of the waters of the ocean or its tributaries; or

2. Insects, blights, or disease of such property other than animals; or

3. Electrical disturbance causing or concomitant with a fire or an explosion; or

4. The ownership, maintenance or use of elevators, except loss or damage by fire. This class of insurance includes the incidental power to make inspections of and to issue certificates of inspection upon any such elevator; or

5. Bombardment, invasion, insurrection, riot, civil war or commotion, military or usurped power, any order of a civil authority made to prevent the spread of a conflagration, epidemic or catastrophe, vandalism or malicious mischief, strike or lockout, collapse from any cause, or explosion; but not including any kind of insurance specified in § 38.2-115, except insurance against loss or damage to property resulting from:

a. Explosion of pressure vessels, except steam boilers of more than fifteen pounds pressure, in buildings designed and used solely for residential purposes by not more than four families;

b. Explosion of any kind originating outside of the insured building or outside of the building containing the insured property;

c. Explosion of pressure vessels not containing steam; or

d. Electrical disturbance causing or concomitant with an explosion; or

6. Any other cause or hazard which may result in a loss or damage to property, if the insurance is not contrary to law or public policy.

B. "Miscellaneous casualty insurance" means insurance against liability, and against loss, damage, or expense arising out of injury to the economic interests of any person, but not including any class of insurance otherwise specified in this title, provided that such insurance is not contrary to law or public policy, except that any policy of miscellaneous casualty insurance may include appropriate provisions obligating the insurer to pay medical, hospital, surgical, and funeral expenses arising out of the death, dismemberment, sickness, or injury of any person, and death and dismemberment benefits in the event of death or dismemberment, if the death, dismemberment, sickness, or injury is caused by or is incidental to a cause of loss insured under the policy.

1952, c. 317, §§ 38.1-7, 38.1-12; 1986, c. 562; 2004, c. 182; 2007, c. 762.

"Water damage insurance" means insurance against loss or damage to any property by water or other fluid or substance resulting from (i) the breakage or leakage of sprinklers, pumps or other apparatus erected for extinguishing fires or of water pipes or other conduits or containers, or (ii) casual water entering through leaks or openings in buildings or by seepage through building walls, but not including loss or damage resulting from flood or the rising of the waters of the ocean or its tributaries. This class of insurance includes insurance against accidental injury of such sprinklers, pumps, fire apparatus, conduits or containers.

1952, c. 317, § 38.1-8; 1986, c. 562.

"Burglary and theft insurance" means insurance against:

1. Loss of or damage to any property resulting from actual or attempted burglary, theft, larceny, robbery, forgery, fraud, vandalism, malicious mischief, wrongful confiscation or wrongful conversion, disposal or concealment by any person or persons;

2. Loss of or damage to moneys, coins, bullion, securities, notes, drafts, acceptances or any other valuable papers or documents, resulting from any cause, except while in the custody or possession of and being transported by any carrier for hire or in the mail; or

3. The loss of property actually surrendered due to extortion, threat, or demand, involving the actual, alleged or threatened kidnapping of any individual or the threat to do bodily injury to or damage to property of or to wrongfully abduct or detain any individual.

Any policy of burglary and theft insurance may include appropriate provisions obligating the insurer to pay medical, hospital, surgical, and funeral expenses arising out of the death, dismemberment, sickness, or injury of any person, and death and dismemberment benefits in the event of death or dismemberment, if the death, dismemberment, sickness, or injury is caused by or is incidental to a cause of loss insured under the policy.

1952, c. 317, § 38.1-9; 1986, c. 562; 2007, c. 762.

"Glass insurance" means insurance against loss of or damage to glass and its appurtenances resulting from any cause.

1952, c. 317, § 38.1-10; 1986, c. 562.

"Boiler and machinery insurance" means insurance against any liability of the insured and against loss of or damage to any property of the insured resulting from the explosion of or injury to (i) any boiler, heater or other fired pressure vessel; (ii) any unfired pressure vessel; (iii) any pipes or containers connected with any of the boilers or vessels; (iv) any engine, turbine, compressor, pump or wheel; (v) any apparatus generating, transmitting or using electricity; or (vi) any other machinery or apparatus connected with or operated by any of the previously named boilers, vessels or machines. Boiler and machinery insurance includes the incidental power to inspect and to issue certificates of inspection upon any such boilers, pressure vessels, apparatus, and machinery.

1952, c. 317, § 38.1-11; 1986, c. 562.

"Animal insurance" means insurance against loss of or damage to any animal resulting from any cause.

1952, c. 317, § 38.1-13; 1986, c. 562.

"Personal injury liability insurance" means insurance against legal liability of the insured, and against loss, damage or expense incident to a claim of such liability, arising out of the death or injury of any person, or arising out of injury to the economic interests of any person as the result of negligence in rendering expert, fiduciary or professional service, but not including any class of insurance specified in § 38.2-119.

Any policy of personal injury liability insurance may include appropriate provisions obligating the insurer to pay medical, hospital, surgical, and funeral expenses arising out of the death or injury of any person, regardless of any legal liability of the insured.

Code 1950, § 38-239; 1952, c. 317, § 38.1-15; 1986, c. 562.

"Property damage liability insurance" means insurance against legal liability of the insured, and against loss, damage or expense incident to a claim of such liability, arising out of the loss or destruction of, or damage to, the property of any other person, but not including any class of insurance specified in § 38.2-117 or § 38.2-119.

1952, c. 317, § 38.1-16; 1986, c. 562.

"Workers' compensation and employers' liability insurance" means insurance against the legal liability of any employer for the death or disablement of, or injury to, his or its employee whether imposed by common law or by statute, or assumed by contract.

Employers' liability insurance may include appropriate provisions obligating the insurer to pay medical, chiropractic, hospital, surgical, and funeral expenses arising out of the death or injury of an employee, regardless of any legal liability of the insured.

1952, c. 317, § 38.1-17; 1986, c. 562.

"Fidelity insurance" means:

1. Indemnifying any person against loss through counterfeit, forgery or alteration of, on, or in any security obligation or other written instrument; or

2. Indemnifying banks, bankers, brokers, financial or moneyed corporations or associations against loss resulting from any cause, of personal property, including fixtures, equipment, safes and vaults on the insured's premises.

1952, c. 317, § 38.1-18; 1986, c. 562.

"Surety insurance" means:

1. Becoming surety or guarantor for any person, in any public or private position or place of trust, whether the guarantee is in an individual, schedule or blanket form; or

2. Becoming surety on or guaranteeing the performance of any lawful obligation, undertaking, agreement, or contract, including reinsurance contracts connected therewith, except policies of insurance; or

3. Becoming surety on or guaranteeing the performance of bonds and undertakings required or permitted in all judicial proceedings or otherwise allowed by law, including surety bonds accepted by state and municipal authorities in lieu of deposits as security for the performance of insurance contracts.

1952, c. 317, § 38.1-18; 1986, c. 562.

"Credit insurance" means indemnifying merchants or other persons extending credit against loss or damage resulting from the nonpayment of debts owed to them. "Credit insurance" includes the incidental power to acquire and dispose of debts so insured and to collect any debts owed to the insurer or to any persons so insured by the insurer. "Credit insurance" does not include any insurance defined in §§ 38.2-103, 38.2-108, 38.2-122.1, 38.2-122.2 or § 38.2-128.

1952, c. 317, § 38.1-19; 1986, c. 562; 2000, c. 526.

"Credit involuntary unemployment insurance" means insurance on a debtor in connection with a specified loan or other credit transaction to provide payment to a creditor for the installment payments or other periodic payments becoming due (i) while the debtor is involuntarily unemployed, or (ii) while the debtor is on an unpaid leave of absence during which employment does not terminate. Such term shall not mean any insurance defined in §§ 38.2-108, 38.2-109 or § 38.2-122.

1993, c. 774; 2000, c. 526.

"Credit property insurance" means insurance against direct physical damage to personal household property used as security for a loan or other credit transaction. Such insurance may insure the creditor as sole beneficiary or may insure both the creditor and the debtor with the creditor as primary beneficiary and the debtor as beneficiary of proceeds not paid to the creditor. For purposes of this definition, "personal household property" does not include motor vehicles, mobile homes, or watercraft. The term "credit property insurance" shall not mean any insurance defined in § 38.2-122.

2000, c. 526.

"Title insurance" means insurance against loss by reason of liens and encumbrances upon property, defects in the title to property, and other matters affecting the title to property or the right to the use and enjoyment of property. "Title insurance" includes insurance of the condition of the title to property and the status of any lien on property.

Code 1950, § 38-233; 1952, c. 317, § 38.1-20; 1986, c. 562.

A. "Motor vehicle insurance" means insurance against:

1. Loss of or damage to motor vehicles, including trailers, semitrailers or other attachments designed for use in connection with motor vehicles, resulting from any cause, and against legal liability of the insured for loss or damage to the property of another resulting from the ownership, maintenance or use of motor vehicles and against loss, damage or expense incident to a claim of such liability; or

2. Legal liability of the insured, and liability arising under subsection A of § 38.2-2206 and against loss, damage, or expense incident to a claim of such liability, arising out of the death or injury of any person resulting from the ownership, maintenance or use of motor vehicles. Motor vehicle insurance does not include any class of insurance specified in § 38.2-119.

B. Any policy of "motor vehicle insurance" covering legal liability of the insured under subdivision 2 of subsection A and covering liability arising under subsection A of § 38.2-2206 may include appropriate provisions obligating the insurer to pay to the covered injured person medical expense and loss of income benefits arising out of the death or injury of any person, as set forth in subsection A of § 38.2-2201. Any such policy of motor vehicle insurance may include appropriate provisions obligating the insurer to pay weekly indemnity or other specific benefits to persons who are injured and specific death benefits to dependents, beneficiaries or personal representatives of persons who are killed, if the injury or death is caused by accident and sustained while in or upon, entering or alighting from, or through being struck by a motor vehicle while not occupying a motor vehicle. These provisions shall obligate the insurer to make payment regardless of any legal liability of the insured or any other person.

1952, c. 317, § 38.1-21; 1956, c. 678; 1962, c. 253; 1983, c. 448; 1984, c. 311; 1986, c. 562; 1991, c. 4; 1996, c. 276.

"Aircraft insurance" means insurance against:

1. Loss of or damage to aircraft and its equipment, resulting from any cause, and against legal liability of the insured for loss of or damage to the property of another resulting from the ownership, maintenance or use of aircraft and against loss, damage or expense incident to a claim of liability; or

2. Legal liability of the insured, and against loss, damage, or expense incident to a claim of liability, arising out of the death or injury of any person resulting from the ownership, maintenance or use of aircraft.

Any policy of "aircraft insurance" covering legal liability of the insured under subdivision 2 of this section may include appropriate provisions obligating the insurer to pay medical, chiropractic, hospital, surgical, and funeral expenses arising out of the death or injury of any person.

1952, c. 317, § 38.1-21; 1956, c. 678; 1962, c. 253; 1983, c. 448; 1984, c. 311; 1986, c. 562.

A. "Marine insurance" means insurance against any kind of loss or damage to:

1. Vessels, craft, aircraft, vehicles of every kind, excluding vehicles operating under their own power or while in storage not incidental to transportation, as well as all goods, freights, cargoes, merchandise, effects, disbursements, profits, moneys, bullion, precious stones, securities, choses in action, evidences of debt, valuable papers, bottomry and respondentia interests and all other kinds of property and interests therein in respect to any risks or perils of navigation, transit or transportation, including war risks, on or under any seas or other waters, on land or in the air, or while being assembled, packed, crated, baled, compressed or similarly prepared for shipment or while awaiting shipment, or during any delays, storage, transshipment, or reshipment incident to shipment, including marine builders' risks and all personal property floater risks;

2. Persons or property in connection with or appertaining to marine, inland marine, transit or transportation insurance, including liability for loss of or damage to either arising out of or in connection with the construction, repair, operation, maintenance, or use of the subject matter of the insurance. This class of insurance shall not include life insurance, surety bonds or insurance against loss by reason of bodily injury to the person arising out of the ownership, maintenance or use of automobiles;

3. Precious stones, jewels, jewelry, gold, silver and other precious metals used in business, trade, or otherwise and whether or not in transit. This class of insurance shall include jewelers' block insurance;

4. (i) Bridges, tunnels, and other instrumentalities of transportation and communication, excluding buildings, their furniture and furnishings, fixed contents and supplies held in storage, unless fire, tornado, sprinkler leakage, hail, explosion, earthquake, riot, and civil commotion are the only hazards to be covered; (ii) to piers, wharves, docks, and slips, excluding the risks of fire, tornado, sprinkler leakage, hail, explosion, earthquake, riot and civil commotion; and (iii) to other aids to navigation and transportation, including dry docks and marine railways, against all risks.

B. Marine insurance shall also include "marine protection and indemnity insurance," meaning insurance against loss, damage, or expense or against legal liability of the insured for loss, damage, or expense arising out of or incident to ownership, operation, chartering, maintenance, use, repair or construction of any vessel, craft or instrumentality in use in ocean or inland waterways, including liability of the insured for personal injury, illness or death or for loss of or damage to the property of another person.

C. Any policy of "marine insurance" as defined in this section providing protection against bodily injury, sickness or death of another person may include appropriate provisions obligating the insurer to pay medical, hospital, surgical, and funeral expenses arising out of the death or injury of any person, regardless of any legal liability of the insured.

D. Marine insurance shall also include "travel insurance" as defined in § 38.2-1887.

1952, c. 317, § 38.1-22; 1986, c. 562; 2019, cc. 266, 346.

"Legal services insurance" means the assumption of a contractual obligation to reimburse the insured against, or pay on behalf of the insured, all or a portion of his fees, costs, and expenses related to services performed by or under the supervision of an attorney licensed to practice in the jurisdiction where the services are performed.

1976, c. 636, § 38.1-22.1; 1978, c. 658; 1986, c. 562.

"Mortgage guaranty insurance" means indemnifying lenders against financial loss arising from nonpayment of principal, interest, or other sums due under the terms of any evidence of indebtedness secured by a mortgage, deed of trust, or other instrument constituting a lien or charge on real property.

1986, c. 562.

"Home protection insurance" means any contract or agreement whereby a person undertakes for a specified period of time and for a predetermined fee to furnish, arrange for, or indemnify for service, repair, or replacement of any or all of the structural components, parts, appliances, or systems of any covered residential dwelling caused by wear and tear, deterioration, inherent defect, or by the failure of any inspection to detect the likelihood of failure.

1986, c. 562.

"Homeowners insurance" is a combination multi-peril policy written under the provisions of § 38.2-1921 containing fire, miscellaneous property, and liability coverages, insuring primarily (i) owner-occupied residential real property pursuant to § 38.2-2108, (ii) personal property located in residential units, or (iii) any combination thereof.

1986, c. 562.

"Farmowners insurance" is a combination multi-peril policy written under the provisions of § 38.2-1921 containing fire, miscellaneous property, and liability coverages, insuring primarily (i) farm and related residential property and improvements to real property owned, leased, or operated as a farm, (ii) personal property located in residential units, (iii) other real or personal property usual or incidental to the operation of a farm, or (iv) any combination thereof.

1986, c. 562.

"Commercial multi-peril insurance" is a combination multi-peril policy written under the provisions of § 38.2-1921 insuring risks incident to a commercial enterprise containing any combination of the classes of insurance set forth in subsection A of § 38.2-1902, except insurance on or with respect to operating properties of railroads.

1986, c. 562.

The definition of any class of insurance against loss of or damage to property enumerated in this article may include insurance against contingent, consequential and indirect losses resulting from any of the causes set out in this article. Coverage for these losses shall be included in the specific grouping of the class of insurance where the cause is specified. Insurance against loss of or damage to property may include insurance against loss or damage to all lawful interests in the property, and against loss of use and occupancy, rents, and profits resulting from the loss or damage.

1952, c. 317, § 38.1-23; 1986, c. 562.

The definition of any class of insurance enumerated in this article shall include insurance against other loss, damage or liability of the same general nature or character, or of a similar kind, if the insurance may reasonably and properly be included in the definition and is not specifically included in the definition of some other class of insurance.

1952, c. 317, § 38.1-24; 1986, c. 562.