Section 40. General disclosure requirements

A. The information required to be disclosed by this chapter shall not be minimized, rendered obscure, or presented in an ambiguous fashion or intermingled with the text of an advertisement so as to confuse or mislead.

B. If an advertisement uses the terms "nonmedical," "no medical examination required," or similar terms where issue is not guaranteed, these terms shall be accompanied by a further disclosure of equal prominence and juxtaposition to the effect that issuance of the policy may depend upon the answers to the health questions contained in the application.

C. An advertisement shall not contain figures, dollar amounts, or statistical information unless it accurately reflects recent and relevant facts. The source of any figures, dollar amounts, or statistics used in advertisements shall be identified therein.

D. An advertisement for a life insurance policy containing graded or modified benefits shall prominently display any limitation of benefits. If the premium is level and coverage decreases or increases with age or duration, that fact shall be commonly disclosed. An advertisement of or for a life insurance policy under which the death benefit varies with the length of time the policy has been in force shall accurately describe and clearly call attention to the amount of minimum death benefit under the policy.

E. Any advertisement that mentions or refers to universal life insurance premiums shall indicate that it is possible that coverage will expire when either no premiums are paid following the initial premium, or subsequent premiums are insufficient to continue coverage, if true.

F. An insurer or agent shall advise a prospective applicant who is considering replacing a policy that under the existing policy the period of time during which the existing insurer could contest the policy or deny coverage for death caused by suicide may have expired or may expire earlier than it will under the proposed policy.

G. An advertisement for life insurance or an annuity that is to be used to fund a preneed funeral contract shall disclose that fact.

H. An advertisement of a life insurance policy or annuity that will not fund a preneed funeral contract and that includes a listing, summary, description, or comparison of actual or estimated costs of funeral goods or services shall contain the following disclosure:

"This (life insurance or annuity) does not specifically cover funeral goods or services, and may not cover the entire cost of your funeral at the time of your death. The beneficiary of this (life insurance or annuity) may use the proceeds for any purpose, unless otherwise directed."

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 27, Issue 14, eff. July 1, 2011; amended, Virginia Register Volume 28, Issue 22, eff. July 1, 2012.

Statutory Authority

§§ 12.1-13 and 38.2-223 of the Code of Virginia.