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Terms Used In Maryland Code, INSURANCE 16-507

  • 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.
  • 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
(a) This section applies only to annuity contracts that do not provide cash surrender benefits.

(b) The present value of a paid-up annuity benefit available as a nonforfeiture option before maturity may not be less than the sum of:

(1) the present value of that part of the maturity value of the paid-up annuity benefit under the annuity contract from considerations paid before the contract is surrendered for or changed to a deferred paid-up annuity; and

(2) any existing additional amount credited by the insurer to the contract.

(c) (1) The present value under subsection (b)(1) of this section shall be calculated for the period before the maturity date using an interest rate specified in the annuity for accumulating the net considerations to determine the maturity value.

(2) If the contract does not provide a death benefit before the start of annuity payments, the present value shall be calculated using the interest rate and mortality table specified in the contract for determining the maturity value of the paid-up annuity benefit.

(d) The present value of a paid-up annuity benefit may not be less than the minimum nonforfeiture amount at the time of surrender.