All benefits under any blanket health policy shall be payable to the person insured, or to his designated beneficiary or beneficiaries, or to his estate; except, that if the person insured be a minor or mentally incompetent, such benefits may be made payable to his parents, guardian, conservator, or other person actually supporting him, or if the entire cost of the insurance has been borne by the employer such benefits may be made payable to the employer. The policy may provide that all or any portion of any indemnities provided by 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 service 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.

Terms Used In South Dakota Codified Laws 58-18-29

  • Beneficiary: A person who is entitled to receive the benefits or proceeds of a will, trust, insurance policy, retirement plan, annuity, or other contract. Source: OCC
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
  • Person: includes natural persons, partnerships, associations, cooperative corporations, limited liability companies, and corporations. See South Dakota Codified Laws 2-14-2

Source: SL 1966, ch 111, ch 26, § 7; SL 1993, ch 213, § 260.