<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="gin" article_name="Insurance" number="8-433" title_number="8" title_name="Entities That Act as Insurers" subtitle_number="4" subtitle_name="Fraternal Benefit Societies">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>After December 31, 1997, a benefit certificate may not be delivered or issued for delivery in the State unless the form has been:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>filed with the Commissioner; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>approved by the Commissioner in the manner provided for like policies issued by life insurers in the State.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Unless disapproved by the Commissioner, a benefit certificate is deemed approved 60 days after the date the form is filed with the Commissioner.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Each life, accident, health, or disability insurance certificate and each annuity certificate issued on or after January 1, 1998, shall meet requirements not inconsistent with this subtitle for like policies and annuities issued by life insurers in the State.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Unless the benefit certificate contains provisions that are more favorable to the member, each benefit certificate shall contain in substance each of the following standard provisions:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>a statement of:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>the amount of rates, premiums, or other required contributions, however named, that are payable by the insured under the certificate; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>the member’s share of a deficiency if reserves are impaired; and</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>a provision that:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>for payment of any premium after the first, the member is entitled to a grace period of not less than a full month or, at the option of the society, 30 days;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>the certificate shall continue in full force during the grace period;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>if the certificate becomes a claim during the grace period before the overdue payment is made, the amount of the overdue payment may be deducted in a settlement under the certificate;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="4">
          <text>recites fully or sets forth the substance of all sections of the laws or rules of the society that are in force on the date of issuance of the certificate, the violation of which will result in the termination or reduction of benefits payable under the certificate; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="5">
          <text>if the laws of the society provide for expulsion or suspension, a member who is expelled or suspended has the privilege of maintaining the insurance in force by continuing payment of the required premium, unless the expulsion or suspension is for:</text>
        </level>
        <level label="A">
          <text>nonpayment of a premium; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="B">
          <text>a material misrepresentation in the member’s application for membership that is discovered within the contestable period.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>Certificates issued on the lives of individuals below the society’s minimum age for adult membership:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>may provide for transfer of control of ownership to the insured at an age specified in the certificate;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>may require approval of an application for membership in order to effect the transfer;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>may provide in all other respects for the regulation, government, and control of the certificate and all rights, obligations, and liabilities incident to and connected with the certificate; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>shall specify ownership rights to the certificate prior to any transfer of the certificate.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>A society may specify the terms and conditions on which benefit certificates may be assigned.</text>
  </level>
</section>
