Sec. 15. (a) No policy of blanket accident and sickness insurance shall be delivered or issued for delivery in this state unless it conforms to the requirements of this section.

(1) A policy may be issued to any common carrier or to any operator, owner or lessee of a means of transportation, who or which shall be deemed the policyholder, covering a group of persons who may become passengers defined by reference to their travel status on such common carrier or such means of transportation.

(2) A policy may be issued to an employer, who shall be deemed the policyholder, covering any group of employees, dependents or guests, defined by reference to specified hazards incident to an activity or activities or operations of the policyholder.

(3) A policy may be issued to a college, school, or other institution of learning, a school district or districts, or school jurisdictional unit, or to the head, principal, or governing board of any such educational unit, who or which shall be deemed the policyholder, covering students, teachers, or employees.

(4) A policy may be issued to any religious, charitable, recreational, educational, or civic organization, or branch of such an organization, which shall be deemed the policyholder, covering any group of members or participants defined by reference to specified hazards incident to any activity or activities or operations sponsored or supervised by such policyholder.

(5) A policy may be issued to a sports team, camp, or sponsor of a sports team or camp, which shall be deemed the policyholder, covering members, campers, employees, officials, or supervisors.

(6) A policy may be issued to any volunteer fire department, first aid, emergency management, or other such volunteer organization, which shall be deemed the policyholder, covering any group of members or participants defined by reference to specified hazards incident to an activity or activities or operations sponsored or supervised by such policyholder.

(7) A policy may be issued to a newspaper or other publisher, which shall be deemed the policyholder, covering its carriers.

(8) A policy may be issued to an association, including a labor union, which shall have a constitution and bylaws and which has been organized and is maintained in good faith for purposes other than that of obtaining insurance, which shall be deemed the policyholder, covering any group of members or participants defined by reference to specified hazards incident to an activity or activities or operations sponsored or supervised by such policyholder.

(9) A policy may be issued to cover any other risk or class of risks which, in the discretion of the commissioner, may be properly eligible for blanket accident and sickness insurance. The discretion of the commissioner may be exercised on an individual risk basis or class of risks, or both.

(b) Each such policy shall contain in substance provisions which in the opinion of the commissioner are not less favorable to the policyholder and the individual insured than the following:

(1) A provision that the policy, including endorsements and a copy of the application, if any, of the policyholder and the persons insured shall constitute the entire contract between the parties, and that any statement made by the policyholder or by a person insured shall in absence of fraud, be deemed a misrepresentation and not a warranty, and that no such statements shall be used in defense to a claim under the policy, unless contained in a written application. Such a person, the person's beneficiary, or the person's assignee shall have the right to make written request to the insurer for a copy of such application and the insurer shall, within fifteen (15) days after the receipt of such request at its home office or any branch office of the insurer, deliver or mail to the person making such request a copy of such application. If such copy shall not be so delivered or mailed, the insurer shall be precluded from introducing such application as evidence in any action based upon or involving any statements contained in the application.

(2) A provision that written notice of sickness or of injury must be given to the insurer within twenty (20) days after the date when such sickness or injury occurred. Failure to give notice within such time shall not invalidate nor reduce any claim if it is shown not to have been reasonably possible to give such notice and that notice was given as soon as was reasonably possible.

(3) A provision that the insurer will furnish either to the claimant or to the policyholder for delivery to the claimant such forms as are usually furnished by it for filing proof of loss. If such forms are not furnished before the expiration of fifteen (15) days after giving of such notice, the claimant shall be deemed to have complied with the requirements of the policy as to proof of loss upon submitting, within the time fixed in the policy for filing proof of loss, written proof covering the occurrence, the character, and the extent of the loss for which claim is made.

(4) A provision that in the case of claim for loss of time for disability, written proof of such loss must be furnished to the insurer within ninety (90) days after the commencement of the period for which the insurer is liable and that subsequent written proofs of the continuance of such disability must be furnished to the insurer at intervals as the insurer may reasonably require, and that in the case of claim for any other loss, written proof of such loss must be furnished to the insurer within ninety (90) days after the date of such loss. Failure to furnish such proof within such time shall not invalidate nor reduce any claim if it shall be shown not to have been reasonably possible to furnish such proof and that such proof was furnished as soon as was reasonably possible.

(5) A provision that all benefits payable under the policy other than benefits for loss of time will be payable:

(A) immediately upon receipt of due written proof of such loss; or

(B) in accordance with IC 27-8-5.7;

whichever is more favorable to the policyholder, and that, subject to due proof of loss, all accrued benefits payable under the policy for loss of time will be paid not less frequently than monthly during the continuance of the period for which the insurer is liable, and that any balance remaining unpaid at the termination of such period will be paid immediately upon receipt of such proof.

(6) A provision that the insurer at its own expense, shall have the right and opportunity to examine the person of the injured or sick individual when and so often as it may reasonably require during the pendency of claim under the policy and also the right and opportunity to make an autopsy where it is not prohibited by law.

(7) A provision that no action at law or in equity shall be brought to recover under the policy prior to the expiration of sixty (60) days after written proof of loss has been furnished in accordance with the requirements of the policy and that no such action shall be brought after the expiration of three (3) years after the time written proof of loss is required to be furnished.

The insurer may omit from a policy any portion of any of the above provisions which is not applicable to that policy. An individual application need not be required from a person covered under a blanket accident and sickness policy, nor shall it be necessary for the insurer to furnish each person a certificate.

(c) All benefits under any blanket accident and sickness policy shall be payable to the person insured, or to the insured's designated beneficiary or beneficiaries, or to the insured's estate, except that if the person insured be a minor or otherwise not competent to give a valid release, such benefits may be made payable to the insured's parent, guardian, or other person actually supporting the insured. However, the policy may provide in substance that all or any portion of any benefits provided by any such policy on account of hospital, nursing, medical, or surgical services may, at the option of the insurer and unless the insured requests otherwise in writing not later than the time of filing proofs of such loss, 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 obligations with respect to the amount of insurance so paid.

(d) This section applies only to policies delivered or issued for delivery in Indiana after August 19, 1975.

Formerly: Acts 1975, P.L.281, SEC.2. As amended by P.L.5-1988, SEC.146; P.L.21-1991, SEC.24; P.L.162-2001, SEC.3; P.L.136-2018, SEC.198.