(a) After January 1, 1973, no life benefit certificate shall be delivered, or issued for delivery, in this state unless a copy of the form has been filed with the commissioner.

Attorney's Note

Under the Alabama Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
Violationup to 30 daysup to $200
For details, see Ala. Code § 13A-5-7
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Terms Used In Alabama Code 27-34-30

  • 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.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • following: means next after. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • Grace period: The number of days you'll have to pay your bill for purchases in full without triggering a finance charge. Source: Federal Reserve
  • month: means a calendar month. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • person: includes a corporation as well as a natural person. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
(b) The certificate shall contain in substance the following standard provisions or, in lieu thereof, provisions which are more favorable to the member:

(1) Title on the face and filing page of the certificate clearly and correctly describing its form;
(2) A provision stating the amount of rates, premiums, or other required contributions, by whatever name known, which are payable by the insured under the certificate;
(3) A provision that the member is entitled to a grace period of not less than a full month, or 30 days at the option of the society, in which the payment of any premium after the first may be made. During such grace period the certificate shall continue in full force, but in case the certificate becomes a claim during the grace period before the overdue payment is made, the amount of such overdue payment, or payments, may be deducted in any settlement under the certificate;
(4) A provision that the member shall be entitled to have the certificate reinstated at any time within three years from the due date of the premium in default, unless the certificate has been completely terminated through the application of a nonforfeiture benefit, cash surrender value, or certificate loan, upon the production of evidence of insurability satisfactory to the society and the payment of all overdue premiums and any other indebtedness to the society upon the certificate, together with interest on such premiums and such indebtedness, if any, at a rate not exceeding six percent per annum, compounded annually;
(5) Except in the case of pure endowment, annuity, or reversionary annuity contracts reducing term insurance contracts or contracts of term insurance of uniform amount of 15 years or less expiring before age 66, a provision that, in the event of default in payment of any premium after three full years’ premiums have been paid or after premiums for a lesser period have been paid if the contract so provided, the society will grant, upon proper request, not later than 60 days after the due date of the premium in default, a paid-up nonforfeiture benefit on the plan stipulated in the certificate, effective as of such due date, of such value as specified in this chapter. The certificate may provide, if the society’s laws so specify or if the member shall so elect prior to the expiration of the grace period of any overdue premium, that default shall not occur so long as premiums can be paid under the provisions of an arrangement for automatic premium loan as may be set forth in the certificate;
(6) A provision that one paid-up nonforfeiture benefit as specified in the certificate shall become effective automatically unless the member elects another available paid-up nonforfeiture benefit, not later than 60 days after the due date of the premium in default;
(7) A statement of the mortality table and rate of interest used in determining all paid-up nonforfeiture benefits and cash surrender options available under the certificate, and a brief general statement of the method used in calculating such benefits;
(8) A table showing in figures the value of every paid-up nonforfeiture benefit and cash surrender option available under the certificate for each certificate anniversary either during the first 20 certificate years or during the term of the certificate, whichever is shorter;
(9) A provision that the certificate shall be incontestable after it has been in force during the lifetime of the member for a period of two years from its date of issue except for nonpayment of premiums, violation of the provisions of the certificate relating to military, aviation, or naval service, and violation of the provisions relating to suspension or expulsion as substantially set forth in the certificate. At the option of the society, supplemental provisions relating to benefits in the event of temporary or permanent disability or hospitalization and provisions which grant additional insurance specifically against death by accident or accidental means may also be excepted. The certificate shall be incontestable on the ground of suicide after it has been in force during the lifetime of the member for a period of two years from date of issue. The certificate may provide, as to statements made to procure reinstatement, that the society shall have the right to contest a reinstated certificate within a period of two years from the date of reinstatement with the same exceptions as provided in this subdivision;
(10) A provision that in case the age of the member or of any other person is considered in determining the premium and it is found at any time before final settlement under the certificate that the age has been misstated and the discrepancy and premium involved have not been adjusted, the amount payable shall be such as the premium would have purchased at the correct age; but if the correct age was not an insurable age under the society’s charter or laws, only the premiums paid to the society, less any payments previously made to the member, shall be returned or, at the option of the society, the amount payable under the certificate shall be such as the premium would have purchased at the correct age according to the society’s promulgated rates and any extension thereof based on actuarial principles;
(11) A provision, or provisions, which recite fully, or which set forth the substance of, all sections of the charter, constitution, laws, rules, or regulations of the society in force at the time of issuance of the certificate, the violation of which will result in the termination of, or in the reduction of, the benefit, or benefits, payable under the certificate; and
(12) If the constitution or laws of the society provide for expulsion or suspension of a member, any member so expelled or suspended, except for nonpayment of a premium or within the contestable period for material misrepresentations in such member’s application for membership, shall have the privilege of maintaining his insurance in force by continuing payment of the required premium.
(c) Any of the provisions, or portions thereof, prescribed in subsection (b) of this section not applicable by reason of the plan of insurance or because the certificate is an annuity certificate may, to the extent inapplicable, be omitted from the certificate.
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