Virginia Law

Article 3. Industrial Life Insurance Policies.

"Industrial life insurance" means life insurance provided by an individual insurance contract (i) under which premiums are payable monthly or more frequently, and (ii) with the words "industrial policy" printed upon the policy as a part of the descriptive matter.

Code 1950, § 38-433; 1952, c. 317, § 38.1-482; 1986, c. 562.

No industrial life insurance policy shall be delivered or issued for delivery in this Commonwealth, unless it contains in substance the provisions prescribed in this article or provisions that are, in the Commission's opinion, more favorable to policyowners.

Code 1950, §§ 38-434, 38-435; 1952, c. 317, § 38.1-410; 1986, c. 562.

No industrial life insurance policy shall be delivered or issued for delivery in this Commonwealth unless it has printed on it a notice stating in substance that if during a ten-day period from the date the policy is delivered to the policyowner, the policy is surrendered to the insurer or its agent with a written request for cancellation, the policy shall be void from the beginning and the insurer shall refund any premium paid for the policy. Nothing in this section shall prohibit an insurer from extending the right to examine period to more than ten days if the period is specified in the policy.

1977, c. 174, § 38.1-410.1; 1986, c. 562.

A. Each industrial life insurance policy shall contain a provision that the insured is entitled to a grace period of twenty-eight days within which the payment of any premium after the first may be made. This grace period shall terminate at noon on the twenty-eighth day after the due date of the defaulted premium. However, for monthly payment policies the insured shall be entitled to a grace period of not less than thirty-one days.

B. Each policy shall also contain a provision that during the grace period the policy shall continue in full force, but if a claim arises under the policy during the grace period and before the overdue premiums are paid, the amount of overdue premiums may be deducted in any settlement under the policy.

Code 1950, § 38-434(1); 1952, c. 317, § 38.1-411; 1986, c. 562.

A. Each industrial life insurance policy shall contain a provision that the policy, or the policy and the application for the policy, if a copy of the application is endorsed upon or attached to the policy when issued, shall constitute the entire contract between the parties.

B. The provision shall also state that:

1. All statements made by the insured shall, in the absence of fraud, be deemed representations and not warranties; and

2. No such statement shall be used in defense of a claim under the policy unless it is contained in a written application that is endorsed upon or attached to the policy when issued.

Code 1950, § 38-434(2); 1952, c. 317, § 38.1-412; 1986, c. 562.

Each industrial life insurance policy shall contain a provision that the policy shall be incontestable after it has been in force for two years from the date of issue during the lifetime of the insured, except for nonpayment of premiums, and except as to provisions and conditions (i) relating to benefits in the event of certain specific types of disability and (ii) granting additional insurance specifically against death by accident or accidental means.

Code 1950, § 38-434(3); 1952, c. 317, § 38.1-413; 1986, c. 562.

Each industrial life insurance policy shall contain a provision that if, before final settlement of the policy, the age of the insured or the age of any other person if considered in determining the premium is found to have been misstated, the amount payable under the policy shall equal the amount that the premium would have purchased at the insured's or other person's correct age, at the time the policy was issued.

Code 1950, § 38-434(4); 1952, c. 317, § 38.1-414; 1986, c. 562.

Each industrial life insurance policy shall contain a provision for nonforfeiture benefits in accordance with the requirements of §§ 38.2-3202 and 38.2-3208, and a provision for cash surrender values in accordance with the requirements of §§ 38.2-3203 and 38.2-3209.

Code 1950, § 38-434(5), (6); 1952, c. 317, § 38.1-415; 1986, c. 562.

Each industrial life insurance policy shall contain a provision that the policy, if not surrendered for its cash value or if the period of extended term insurance has not expired, may be reinstated within one year from the date of default in payment of premiums upon:

1. Payment of all overdue premiums and, at the insurer's option, interest on the overdue premiums at an annual rate not exceeding six percent; and

2. Presentation of evidence satisfactory to the insurer of the insurability of the insured.

Code 1950, § 38-434(7); 1952, c. 317, § 38.1-416; 1986, c. 562.

Each industrial life insurance policy shall contain a table showing the nonforfeiture options available under the policy each year upon default in the payment of premiums during at least the first twenty years of the policy, or during the premium-paying period if less than twenty years. There shall also be a provision that the insurer will furnish, upon request, an extension of the table beyond the years shown in the policy.

Code 1950, § 38-434(8); 1952, c. 317, § 38.1-417; 1986, c. 562.

Each industrial life insurance policy shall contain a provision that when a death claim arises under the policy, settlement shall be made within two months after receipt of due proof of death.

Code 1950, § 38-434(9); 1952, c. 317, § 38.1-418; 1986, c. 562.

Each industrial life insurance policy shall have a title on its face that briefly and accurately describes the nature and form of the policy.

Code 1950, § 38-434(10); 1952, c. 317, § 38.1-419; 1986, c. 562.

The provisions of this article do not apply to policies issued or granted in exercise of the nonforfeiture provisions of § 38.2-3347.

Code 1950, § 38-438; 1952, c. 317, § 38.1-420; 1986, c. 562.

Industrial life insurance policies issued by any foreign or alien insurer for delivery in this Commonwealth may contain any provision that is prescribed by the laws of its domiciliary jurisdiction and is not in conflict with the laws of this Commonwealth. Policies issued by any domestic insurer for delivery in any other jurisdiction may contain any provision required by the laws of that jurisdiction.

Code 1950, § 38-436; 1952, c. 317, § 38.1-421; 1986, c. 562.

No industrial life insurance policy shall be delivered or issued for delivery in this Commonwealth if it contains any of the following provisions:

1. Limiting the time within which any action at law or in equity may be commenced to less than one year after the cause of action accrues;

2. For any mode of settlement at maturity of less value than the amount insured by the policy plus any dividend additions to the policy, less (i) any indebtedness to the insurer on or secured by the policy and (ii) any premium that may by the terms of the policy be deducted. This subdivision shall not apply to any nonforfeiture provision that employs the cash value less any indebtedness, to purchase paid up or extended insurance, and shall not prohibit the issuance of policies providing for a limitation in the amount payable under certain specified conditions; or

3. To the effect that the agent soliciting the insurance is the agent of the person insured under the policy, or making the acts or representations of the agent binding upon the person insured under the policy.

Code 1950, § 38-437; 1952, c. 317, § 38.1-422; 1986, c. 562.