17B:30B-9 Material required prior to entering into viatical settlement contract.

9. a. (1) A viatical settlement provider entering into a viatical settlement contract shall first obtain:

(a) If the viator is the insured, a written statement from a licensed attending physician that the viator is of sound mind and under no constraint or undue influence to enter into a viatical settlement contract; and

(b) A document in which the insured consents to the release of his medical records to a viatical settlement provider, life insurance producer and, if the policy was issued less than two years from the date of application for a viatical settlement contract, to the insurance company that issued the policy covering the life of the insured.

(2) The insurer shall respond to a request for verification of coverage submitted by a viatical settlement provider not later than 30 calendar days after the date the request is received. The request for verification of coverage shall be made on a form approved by the commissioner. The insurer shall complete and issue the verification of coverage or indicate in which respects it is unable to respond. In its response, the insurer shall indicate whether, based on the medical evidence and documents provided, the insurer intends to pursue an investigation at that time regarding the validity of the insurance contract.

(3) Prior to or at the time of execution of the viatical settlement contract, the viatical settlement provider shall obtain a witnessed document in which the viator consents to the viatical settlement contract, represents that the viator has a full and complete understanding of the viatical settlement contract, that the viator has a full and complete understanding of the benefits of the life insurance policy, acknowledges that the viator is entering into the viatical settlement contract freely and voluntarily and, for persons with a terminal or chronic illness or condition, acknowledges that the insured has a terminal or chronic illness and that the terminal or chronic illness was diagnosed after the life insurance policy was issued.

(4) If a life insurance producer performs any of the activities required of the viatical settlement provider, the viatical settlement provider is deemed to have fulfilled the requirements of this section.

b. All medical information solicited or obtained by any licensee shall be subject to the applicable provisions of State law relating to confidentiality of medical information.

c. All viatical settlement contracts entered into in this State shall provide the viator with an unconditional right to rescind the contract before the earlier of 30 calendar days after the date upon which the settlement contract is executed by all parties or 15 calendar days after the receipt of the viatical settlement proceeds by the viator. If exercised by the viator, rescission is effective only if both notice of the rescission is given and a full repayment of all proceeds and any premiums, loans and loan interest to the settlement provider is made within the rescission period. If the insured dies during the rescission period, the viatical settlement contract shall be deemed to have been rescinded, subject to repayment to the viatical settlement provider or purchaser of all viatical settlement proceeds, and any premiums, loans and loan interest that have been paid by the settlement provider.

d. The viatical settlement provider shall instruct the viator to send the executed documents required to effect the change in ownership, assignment or change in beneficiary directly to the independent escrow agent. Within three business days after the date the escrow agent receives the documents (or from the date the viatical settlement provider receives the documents, if the viator erroneously provides the documents directly to the provider), the provider shall pay or transfer the proceeds of the viatical settlement into an escrow or trust account maintained in a State or federally-chartered financial institution whose deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Upon payment of the settlement proceeds into the escrow account, the escrow agent shall deliver the original change in ownership, assignment or change in beneficiary forms to the viatical settlement provider or related provider trust. Upon the escrow agent's receipt of the acknowledgment of the properly completed transfer of ownership or designation of beneficiary from the insurance company, the escrow agent shall pay the viatical settlement proceeds to the viator.

e. Failure to tender consideration to the viator for the viatical settlement contract within the time disclosed pursuant to paragraph (6) of subsection a. of section 8 of this act renders the viatical settlement contract voidable by the viator for lack of consideration until the time consideration is tendered to and accepted by the viator.

f. Contacts with the insured for the purpose of determining the health status of the insured by the viatical settlement provider after the viatical settlement has occurred shall only be made by the settlement provider licensed in this State or its authorized representatives and shall be limited to once every three months for insureds with a life expectancy of more than one year, and to no more than once per month for insureds with a life expectancy of one year or less. The provider shall explain to the insured the procedure for these contacts at the time the viatical settlement contract is entered into. The limitations set forth in this subsection shall not apply to any contacts with an insured for reasons other than determining the insured's health status. Viatical settlement providers shall be responsible for the actions of their authorized representatives.

g. If the insured is not terminally or chronically ill, viatical settlement providers shall pay an amount greater than the cash surrender value or accelerated death benefit then available.

L.2005,c.229,s.9.