Virginia Code 38.2-6009: Prohibited practices
A. It is a violation of this chapter for any person to enter into a viatical settlement contract within a two-year period commencing with the date of issuance of the insurance policy or certificate unless the viator certifies to the viatical settlement provider that one or more of the following conditions have been met within the two-year period:
Terms Used In Virginia Code 38.2-6009
- Chronically ill: means (i) being unable to perform at least two activities of daily living, which shall include eating, toileting, transferring, bathing, dressing or continence, (ii) requiring substantial supervision by another person to protect the individual from threats to health and safety due to severe cognitive impairment, or (iii) having a level of disability similar to that described in clause (i) as determined by the federal Secretary of Health and Human Resources. See Virginia Code 38.2-6000
- Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
- Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
- 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.
- Insurer: means an insurance company. See Virginia Code 38.2-100
- Person: means any association, aggregate of individuals, business, company, corporation, individual, joint-stock company, Lloyds type of organization, organization, partnership, receiver, reciprocal or interinsurance exchange, trustee or society. See Virginia Code 38.2-100
- Policy: means an individual or group policy, group certificate, contract or arrangement of life insurance affecting the rights of a resident of this Commonwealth or bearing a reasonable relation to this Commonwealth, regardless of whether delivered or issued for delivery in this Commonwealth. See Virginia Code 38.2-6000
- 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.
- Viatical settlement provider: means a person, other than a viator, that enters into or effectuates a viatical settlement contract. See Virginia Code 38.2-6000
- Viator: means the owner of a life insurance policy or a certificate holder under a group policy who enters or seeks to enter into a viatical settlement contract. See Virginia Code 38.2-6000
1. The policy was issued upon the viator’s exercise of conversion rights arising out of a group or individual policy, provided the total of the time covered under the conversion policy plus the time covered under the prior policy is at least 24 months. The time covered under a group policy shall be calculated without regard to any change in insurance carriers, provided the coverage has been continuous and under the same group sponsorship;
2. The viator submits independent evidence to the viatical settlement provider that one or more of the following conditions have been met within the two-year period:
a. The insured is terminally or chronically ill, or
b. The viator or insured disposes of his ownership interests in a closely held corporation pursuant to terms of a buyout or other similar agreement in effect at the time the insurance policy was initially issued.
B. Copies of the certifications and independent evidence required by this subsection and documents required by subsection A of § 38.2-6008 shall be submitted to the insurer when the viatical settlement provider submits a request to the insurer for verification of coverage. The copies shall be accompanied by a letter of attestation from the viatical settlement provider that the copies are true and correct copies of the documents received by the viatical settlement provider.
2003, c. 717.