(a) A group life insurance policy must provide that any amount due because of an insured’s death must be paid to the beneficiary designated by the insured or the beneficiary’s assignee, subject to:
(1) the provisions of the policy, if the designated beneficiary as to all or any part of the amount is not living at the time the insured dies; and
(2) any right reserved by the insurer in the policy and stated in the certificate to pay at the insurer’s option a portion of the amount not to exceed $250 to any person the insurer determines is equitably entitled to the portion because of having incurred funeral or other expenses incident to the last illness or death of the insured.
(b) This section does not apply to:
(1) a policy issued to a creditor to insure the creditor’s debtors; or
(2) a policy to which Section 1131.703 applies.