North Dakota Code 26.1-15.1-19 – The benefit contract
1. Every society authorized to do business in this state shall issue to each owner of a benefit contract a certificate specifying the amount of benefits provided. The certificate, together with any riders or endorsements attached thereto, the laws of the society, the application for membership, the application for insurance and declaration of insurability, if any, signed by the applicant, and all amendments to each, constitute the benefit contract, as of the date of issuance, between the society and the owner, and the certificate must so state. A copy of the application for insurance and declaration of insurability, if any, must be endorsed upon or attached to the certificate. All statements on the application must be representations and not warranties. Any waiver of this provision is void.
Terms Used In North Dakota Code 26.1-15.1-19
- Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
- 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.
- Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. Source: U.S. Courts
- 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.
- 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
- Liabilities: The aggregate of all debts and other legal obligations of a particular person or legal entity.
- Person: means an individual, organization, government, political subdivision, or government agency or instrumentality. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
- State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
2. Any changes, additions, or amendments to the laws of the society duly made or enacted subsequent to the issuance of the certificate are binding upon the owner and the beneficiaries and govern and control the benefit contract in all respects the same as though the changes, additions, or amendments had been made prior to and were in force at the time of the application for insurance, except that no change, addition, or amendment destroys or diminishes benefits that the society contracted to give the owner as of the date of issuance.
3. Any person upon whose life a benefit contract is issued prior to attaining the age of majority is bound by the terms of the application and certificate and by all the laws and rules of the society to the same extent as though the age of majority had been attained at the time of application.
4. A society shall provide in its laws that if its reserves as to all or any class of certificates become impaired its board of directors or corresponding body may require that there must be paid by the owner to the society the amount of the owner’s equitable proportion of the deficiency as ascertained by its board. If the payment is not made, either the proportionate amount must stand as an indebtedness against the certificate and draw interest not to exceed the rate specified for certificate loans under the certificates or the owner may accept a proportionate reduction in benefits under the certificate, either alone or in combination with an indebtedness against the certificate. The society may specify the manner of the election and which alternative is to be presumed if the member makes no election.
5. Copies of any of the documents mentioned in this section, certified by the secretary or corresponding officer of the society, are prima facie evidence of their terms and conditions.
6. No certificate may be delivered or issued for delivery in this state unless a copy of the form has been filed with and approved by the commissioner in the manner provided for like policies issued by life insurers in this state. Every life, accident, health, or disability insurance certificate and every annuity certificate issued after December 31, 1988, must meet the standard contract provision requirements not inconsistent with this chapter for like policies issued by life insurers in this state, except that a society may provide for a grace period for payment of premiums of one full month in its certificates. The certificates must also contain a provision stating the amount of premiums which is payable under the certificate and a provision reciting or setting forth the substance of any sections of the laws or rules of the society in force at the time of issuance of the certificate which, if violated, will result in the termination or reduction of benefits payable under the certificate. If the laws of the society provide for expulsion or suspension of a member, the certificate must also contain a provision that any member so expelled or suspended, except for nonpayment of a premium or within the contestable period for material misrepresentation in the application for membership or insurance, has the privilege of maintaining the certificate in force by continuing payment of the required premium.
7. Benefit contracts issued on the lives of persons below the minimum age for adult membership may provide for transfer of control or ownership to the insured at an age specified in the certificate. A society may require approval of an application for membership in order to effect this transfer and may provide in all other respects for the regulation, government, and control of the certificates and all rights, obligations, and liabilities incident thereto. Ownership rights prior to transfer of control or ownership must be specified in the certificate.
8. A society may specify the terms and conditions on which benefit contracts may be assigned.