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Terms Used In Maryland Code, INSURANCE 16-506

  • Annuity: A periodic (usually annual) payment of a fixed sum of money for either the life of the recipient or for a fixed number of years. A series of payments under a contract from an insurance company, a trust company, or an individual. Annuity payments are made at regular intervals over a period of more than one full year.
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • including: means includes or including by way of illustration and not by way of limitation. See
  • Interest rate: The amount paid by a borrower to a lender in exchange for the use of the lender's money for a certain period of time. Interest is paid on loans or on debt instruments, such as notes or bonds, either at regular intervals or as part of a lump sum payment when the issue matures. Source: OCC
  • Remainder: An interest in property that takes effect in the future at a specified time or after the occurrence of some event, such as the death of a life tenant.
(a) This section applies only to annuity contracts that provide cash surrender benefits.

(b) Cash surrender benefits available before maturity under an annuity contract may not be less than the remainder of:

(1) the present value as of the surrender date of the part of the maturity value of the paid-up annuity benefit that would be provided at maturity from considerations paid before the surrender date and any existing additional amount credited by the insurer to the contract; less

(2) the appropriate amount that reflects prior withdrawals from or partial surrenders of the contract and any indebtedness to the insurer on the contract, including interest due and accrued.

(c) The present value under subsection (b)(1) of this section shall be calculated using an interest rate not more than 1% higher than the interest rate specified in the contract for accumulating net considerations to determine the maturity value.

(d) (1) A cash surrender benefit may not be less than the minimum nonforfeiture amount at the time of surrender.

(2) A death benefit under a contract subject to this section shall equal at least the cash surrender benefit.