Subdivision 1.Requirements.

Blanket accident and sickness insurance is hereby declared to be that form of accident and sickness insurance covering special groups of persons as enumerated in one of the following paragraphs:

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(1) Under a policy issued to any common carrier, which shall be deemed the policyholder, covering a group defined as all or any class of persons who may become passengers on such common carrier.

(2) Under a policy issued to an employer, who shall be deemed the policyholder, covering all employees or any group of employees defined by reference to exceptional hazards incident to such employment.

(3) Under a policy issued to a college, school, or other institution of learning or to the head or principal thereof, who or which shall be deemed the policyholder, covering students or teachers.

(4) Under a policy issued in the name of any volunteer fire department, first aid, or other such volunteer group, which shall be deemed the policyholder, covering all of the members of such department or group.

(5) Under a policy issued to a sports team or to a camp, which team or camp or sponsor thereof shall be deemed the policyholder, covering members or campers.

(6) Under a policy issued to any other substantially similar group which, in the discretion of the commissioner, may be subject to the issuance of a blanket accident and sickness policy.

Subd. 2.Authority.

Any insurer authorized to write accident and sickness insurance in this state shall have the power to issue blanket accident and sickness policies.

Subd. 3.Policy forms.

No policy of blanket accident and sickness insurance may be issued or delivered in this state unless a copy of the form thereof has been approved by the commissioner and it contains in substance such of the provisions required for individual policies as may be applicable to blanket accident and sickness insurance and the following provisions:

(1) A provision that the policy and the application of the policyholder shall constitute the entire contract between the parties, and that, in the absence of fraud, all statements made by the policyholder shall be deemed representations and not warranties, and that no statement made for the purpose of affecting insurance shall avoid such insurance or reduce benefits unless contained in a written instrument signed by the policyholder, a copy of which has been furnished to such policyholder.

(2) A provision that to the group or class originally insured shall be added from time to time all new persons eligible for coverage.

Subd. 4.Application; certificate.

An individual application shall not be required from a person covered under a blanket accident and sickness policy, nor shall it be necessary for the insurer to furnish each person a certificate.

Subd. 5.Benefits.

All benefits under any blanket accident and sickness policy shall be payable to the person insured, or to a designated beneficiary, or beneficiaries, or to the insured’s estate, except that if the person insured be a minor, such benefits may be made payable to the insured’s parent, guardian, or other person actually supporting the insured. Provided further, however, that the policy may provide that all or any portion of any indemnities provided by any such policy on account of hospital, nursing, medical or surgical services may, at the insurer’s option, be paid directly to the hospital or person rendering such services; but the policy may not require that the services be rendered by a particular hospital or person. Payment so made shall discharge the insurer’s obligation with respect to the amount of insurance so paid.

Subd. 6.Legal liability.

Nothing contained in this section shall be deemed to affect the legal liability of policyholders for the death of, or injury to, any such member of such group.