Oklahoma Statutes
Title 36. Insurance
§36-4029. Operative date of valuation manual - Nonforfeiture provisions - Life insurance.

A. Definitions. The term "operative date of the valuation manual" means the January 1 of the first calendar year that the valuation manual, as defined in the Section 1510 of this title, is effective.

B. No policy of life insurance, except as set forth in subsection M of this section, shall be delivered or issued for delivery in this state unless it shall contain in substance the following provisions, or corresponding provisions which are at least as favorable to the defaulting or surrendering policyholder as are the minimum requirements hereinafter specified and are essentially in compliance with subsection L of this section:
1. That in the event of default in any premium payment, after premiums have been paid for at least three (3) full years, the insurer will grant, upon proper request not later than sixty (60) days after the due date of the premium in default, a paid-up nonforfeiture benefit on a plan stipulated in the policy, effective as of such due date, of such amount as may be hereinafter specified. In lieu of such stipulated paid-up nonforfeiture benefit, the insurer may substitute, upon proper request not later than sixty (60) days after the due date of the premium in default, an actuarially equivalent alternative paid-up nonforfeiture benefit which provides a greater amount or longer period of death benefits or, if applicable, a greater amount or earlier payment of endowment benefits.
2. That upon surrender of the policy within sixty (60) days after the due date of any premium payment in default after premiums have been paid for at least three (3) full years in the case of ordinary insurance, or five (5) full years in the case of industrial insurance, the insurer will pay, in lieu of any paid-up nonforfeiture benefit, a cash surrender value of such amount as may be hereinafter specified.
3. That a specified paid-up nonforfeiture benefit shall become effective as specified in the policy unless the person entitled to make such election elects another available option not later than sixty (60) days after the due date of the premium in default.
4. That if the policy shall have become paid up by completion of all premium payments, or if it is continued under any paid-up nonforfeiture benefit which became effective on or after the third policy anniversary in the case of ordinary insurance, or the fifth policy anniversary in the case of industrial insurance, the insurer will pay, upon surrender of the policy within thirty (30) days after any policy anniversary, a cash surrender value of such amount as may be hereinafter specified.
5. In the case of policies which cause, on a basis guaranteed in the policy, unscheduled changes in benefits or premiums, or which provide an option for changes in benefits or premiums other than a change to a new policy, a statement of the mortality table, interest rate and method used in calculating cash surrender values and the paid-up nonforfeiture benefits available under the policy. In the case of all other policies, a statement of the mortality table and interest rate used in calculating the cash surrender values and the paid-up nonforfeiture benefits available under the policy, together with a table showing the cash surrender value, if any, and paid-up nonforfeiture benefit, if any, available under the policy on each policy anniversary, either during the first twenty (20) policy years or during the term of the policy, whichever is shorter, such values and benefits to be calculated upon the assumption that there are no dividends or paid-up additions credited to the policy and that there is no indebtedness to the insurer on the policy.
6. An explanation of the manner in which the cash surrender values and the paid-up nonforfeiture benefits are altered by the existence of any paid-up additions credited to the policy or any indebtedness to the insurer on the policy; if a detailed statement of the method of computation of the values and benefits shown in the policy is not stated therein, a statement that such method of computation has been filed with the insurance supervisory official of the state in which the policy is delivered; and a statement of the method to be used in calculating the cash surrender value and paid-up nonforfeiture benefit available under the policy on any policy anniversary beyond the last anniversary for which such values and benefits are consecutively shown in the policy.
C. Any of the provisions or portions thereof set forth in paragraphs 1 through 6 of subsection B of this section which are not applicable by reason of the plan of insurance may, to the extent inapplicable, be omitted from the policy. The insurer shall reserve the right to defer the payment of any cash surrender value for a period of six (6) months after demand therefor with surrender of the policy.
D. Cash surrender value: The policy must comply with the requirements of one of the following paragraphs:
1. Any cash surrender value available under the policy in the event of default in the premium payment due on any policy anniversary, whether or not required by subsection B of this section, shall be at least equal to the reserve on the policy at date of default and on any paid-up additions thereto, less a sum of not more than two and one-half percent (2 1/2%) of the amount insured by the policy and of the paid-up additions thereto, if any, and less any existing indebtedness to the company on or secured by the policy; the reserve on such policy to be computed in accordance with the mortality table and the rate of interest specified in the policy for the calculation of the cash value and by the net level premium method of valuation unless a modified net premium method of valuation be specified in the policy. No cash surrender value shall be required in policies of term insurance of twenty (20) years or less.
2. Any cash surrender value available under the policy in the event of default in the premium payment due on any policy anniversary, whether or not required by subsection B of this section, shall be an amount not less than the excess, if any, of the present value on such anniversary of the future guaranteed benefits which would have been provided for by the policy, including any existing paid-up additions if there had been no default over the sum of (i) the then present value of the adjusted premiums as defined in subsections G, H and I of this section, corresponding to premiums which would have fallen due on and after such anniversary, and (ii) the amount of any indebtedness to the insurer on account of or secured by the policy.
3. Provided, however, that for any policy issued on or after the operative date of paragraph 4 of subsection I of this section as defined therein, which provides supplemental life insurance or annuity benefits at the option of the insured and for an identifiable additional premium by rider or supplemental policy provision, the cash surrender value referred to in paragraph 2 of this subsection shall be an amount not less than the sum of the cash surrender value as defined in such paragraph for an otherwise similar policy issued at the same age without such rider or supplemental policy provision and the cash surrender value as defined in such paragraph for a policy which provides only the benefits otherwise provided by such rider or supplemental policy provision.
4. Provided, further, that for any family policy issued on or after the operative date of paragraph 4 of subsection I of this section as defined therein, which defines a primary insured and provides term insurance on the life of the spouse of the primary insured expiring before the spouse's age seventy-one (71) years, the cash surrender value referred to in paragraph 2 of this subsection shall be an amount not less than the sum of the cash surrender value as defined in such paragraph for an otherwise similar policy issued at the same age without such term insurance on the life of the spouse and the cash surrender value as defined in such paragraph for a policy which provides only the benefits otherwise provided by such term insurance on the life of the spouse.
5. Any cash surrender value available within thirty (30) days after any policy anniversary under any policy paid up by completion of all premium payments, or any policy continued under any paid-up nonforfeiture benefits, whether or not required by subsection B, shall be an amount not less than the present value, on such anniversary, of the future guaranteed benefits provided for by the policy including any existing paid-up additions, decreased by any indebtedness to the insurer on account of or secured by the policy. The method described in paragraphs 2, 3, 4 and 5 of this subsection may be referred to as the Standard Nonforfeiture Value Method.
E. Notification to policyholder of cash surrender value: Within three (3) months after default of any premium payment on any life insurance policy which has a cash surrender value, the insurer shall notify the policyholder in writing of the cash surrender value and of the policyholder's options as to the application of the cash surrender value as provided in the policy.
F. Paid-up nonforfeiture benefits: Any paid-up nonforfeiture benefit available under the policy in the event of default in the premium payment due on any policy anniversary shall be such that its present value as of such anniversary shall be at least equal to the cash surrender value then provided for by the policy, or, if none is provided for, that cash surrender value which would have been required by this section in the absence of the condition that premiums shall have been paid for at least a specified period.
G. The adjusted premium: This subsection shall not apply to policies issued on or after the operative date of paragraph 4 of subsection I of this section as defined therein. Except as provided in paragraph 2 of subsection H of this section, the adjusted premiums for any policy shall be calculated on an annual basis and shall be such uniform percentage of the respective premiums specified in the policy for each policy year, excluding extra premiums on a substandard policy, that the present value, at the date of issue of the policy, of all such adjusted premiums shall be equal to the sum of:
The date of issue of a policy for the purpose of this section shall be the date as of which the rated age of the insured is determined.
H. 1. This subsection shall not apply to policies issued on or after the operative date of paragraph 4 of subsection I of this section as defined therein. In the case of a policy providing an amount of insurance varying with the duration of the policy, the equivalent uniform amount thereof for the purpose of subsection G of this section shall be deemed to be the uniform amount of insurance provided by an otherwise similar policy, containing the same endowment benefit or benefits, if any, issued at the same age and for the same term, the amount of which does not vary with duration and the benefits under which have the same present value at the date of issue as the benefits under the policy, provided, however, that in the case of a policy providing a varying amount of insurance issued on the life of a child under age ten (10) years, the equivalent uniform amount may be computed as though the amount of insurance provided by the policy prior to the attainment of age ten (10) years were the amount provided by such policy at age ten (10) years.
2. The adjusted premiums for any policy providing term insurance benefits by rider or supplemental policy provision shall be equal to (a) the adjusted premiums for an otherwise similar policy issued at the same age without such term insurance benefits, increased, during the period for which premiums for such term insurance benefits are payable, by (b) the adjusted premiums for such term insurance, the foregoing items (a) and (b) being calculated separately and as specified in subsection G of this section and paragraph 1 of this subsection except that, for the purposes of clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv) of subsection G of this section, the amount of insurance or equivalent uniform amount of insurance used in the calculation of the adjusted premiums referred to in (b) shall be equal to the excess of the corresponding amount determined for the entire policy over the amount used in the calculation of the adjusted premiums in (a).
I. 1. This paragraph shall not apply to policies issued on or after the operative date of paragraph 4 of this subsection as defined therein. For policies which comply with the requirements of paragraph 2 of subsection D of this section and except as otherwise provided in paragraphs 2 and 3 of this subsection, all adjusted premiums and present values referred to in this section shall for policies of ordinary insurance be calculated on the basis of the Commissioners 1941 Standard Ordinary Mortality Table, provided that for any category of ordinary insurance issued on female risks, adjusted premiums and present values may be calculated according to an age not more than three (3) years younger than the actual age of the insured, and such calculations for all policies of industrial insurance shall be made on the basis of the 1941 Standard Industrial Mortality Table. All calculations shall be made on the basis of the rate of interest, not exceeding three and one-half percent (3 1/2%) per annum, specified in the policy for calculating cash surrender values and paid-up nonforfeiture benefits, provided, however, that in calculating the present value of any paid-up term insurance with accompanying pure endowment, if any, offered as a nonforfeiture benefit, the rates of mortality assumed may be not more than one hundred thirty percent (130%) of the rates of mortality according to such applicable table, provided further that for insurance issued on a substandard basis, the calculation of any such adjusted premiums and present values may be based on such other table of mortality as may be specified by the insurer and approved by the Insurance Commissioner.
2. This paragraph shall not apply to ordinary policies issued on or after the operative date of paragraph 4 of this subsection as defined therein. In the case of ordinary policies which comply with the requirements of paragraph 2 of subsection D of this section issued on or after July 1, 1962, all adjusted premiums and present values referred to in this section may be calculated on the basis of the Commissioners 1958 Standard Ordinary Mortality Table and the rate of interest specified in the policy for calculating cash surrender values and paid-up nonforfeiture benefits, provided that such rate of interest shall not exceed three and one-half percent (3 1/2%) per annum except that a rate of interest not exceeding four percent (4%) per annum may be used for policies issued on or after April 11, 1974, and prior to March 17, 1978, and rate of interest not exceeding five and one-half percent (5 1/2%) per annum may be used for policies issued on or after March 17, 1978, and provided that for any category of ordinary insurance issued on female risks, adjusted premiums and present values may be calculated according to an age not more than six (6) years younger than the actual age of the insured. Provided, however, that in calculating the present value of any paid-up term insurance with accompanying pure endowment, if any, offered as a nonforfeiture benefit, the rates of mortality assumed may be not more than those shown in the Commissioners 1958 Extended Term Insurance Table. Provided, further, that for insurance issued on a substandard basis, the calculation of any such adjusted premiums and present values may be based on such other table of mortality as may be specified by the company and approved by the Commissioner.
3. This paragraph shall not apply to industrial policies issued on or after the operative date of paragraph 4 of this subsection as defined therein. In the case of industrial policies, which comply with the requirements of paragraph 2 of subsection D of this section, all adjusted premiums and present values referred to in this section may be calculated on the basis of the Commissioners 1961 Standard Industrial Mortality Table and the rate of interest specified in the policy for calculating cash surrender values and paid-up nonforfeiture benefits provided that such rate of interest shall not exceed three and one-half percent (3 1/2%) per annum except that a rate of interest not exceeding four percent (4%) per annum may be used for policies issued on or after April 11, 1974, and prior to March 17, 1978, and a rate of interest not exceeding five and one-half percent (5 1/2%) per annum may be used for policies issued on or after March 17, 1978. Provided, however, that in calculating the present value of any paid-up term insurance with accompanying pure endowment, if any, offered as a nonforfeiture benefit, the rates of mortality assumed may be not more than those shown in the Commissioners 1961 Industrial Extended Term Insurance Table. Provided, further, that for insurance issued on a substandard basis, the calculation of any such adjusted premiums and present values may be based on such other table of mortality as may be specified by the company and approved by the Commissioner.
J. In the case of any plan of life insurance which provides for future premium determination, the amounts of which are to be determined by the insurer based on then estimates of future experience, or in the case of any plan of life insurance which is of such a nature that minimum values cannot be determined by the methods described in subsections B through I of this section:
1. The Commissioner must be satisfied that the benefits provided under the plan are substantially as favorable to policyholders and insureds as the minimum benefits otherwise required by subsections B through I of this section;
2. The Commissioner must be satisfied that the benefits and the pattern of premiums of that plan are not such as to mislead prospective policyholders or insureds;
3. The cash surrender values and paid-up nonforfeiture benefits provided by such plan must not be less than the minimum values and benefits required for the plan computed by a method consistent with the principles of this Standard Nonforfeiture Law for Life Insurance, as determined by regulations promulgated by the Commissioner.
K. Calculation of Values: Any cash surrender value and any paid-up nonforfeiture benefit available under the policy in the event of default in a premium payment due at any time other than on the policy anniversary shall be calculated with allowance for the lapse of time and the payment of fractional premiums beyond the last preceding policy anniversary, except in the case of industrial insurance proportionate increases in value may be calculated on the basis of quarter-year payments. All values referred to in subsections D, F, G, H and I of this section may be calculated upon the assumption that any death benefit is payable at the end of the policy year of death. The net value of any paid-up additions, other than paid-up term additions, shall be not less than the amounts used to provide such additions. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection D of this section, additional benefits payable (1) in the event of death or dismemberment by accident or accidental means, (2) in the event of total and permanent disability, (3) as reversionary annuity or deferred reversionary annuity benefits, (4) as term insurance benefits provided by a rider or supplemental policy provision to which, if issued as a separate policy, this section would not apply, (5) as term insurance on the life of a child or on the lives of children provided in a policy on the life of a parent of the child, if such term insurance expires before the child's age is twenty-six (26) years, is uniform in amount after the child's age is one (1) year, and has not become paid up by reason of the death of a parent of the child, and (6) as other policy benefits additional to life insurance and endorsement benefits, and premiums for all such additional benefits, shall be disregarded in ascertaining cash surrender values and nonforfeiture benefits required by this section, and no such additional benefits shall be required to be included in any paid-up nonforfeiture benefits.
L. This subsection, in addition to all other applicable subsections of this section, shall apply to all policies issued on or after January 1, 1986. Any cash surrender value available under the policy in the event of default in a premium payment due on any policy anniversary, shall be in an amount which does not differ by more than two-tenths of one percent (2/10 of 1%) of either the amount of insurance, if the insurance be uniform in amount, or the average amount of insurance at the beginning of each of the first ten (10) policy years, from the sum of (a) the greater of zero and the basic cash value hereinafter specified and (b) the present value of any existing paid-up additions less the amount of any indebtedness to the insurer under the policy.
The basic cash value shall be equal to the present value, on such anniversary, of the future guaranteed benefits which would have been provided for by the policy, excluding any existing paid-up additions and before deduction of any indebtedness to the insurer, if there had been no default, less the then present value of the nonforfeiture factors, as hereinafter defined, corresponding to premiums which would have fallen due on and after such anniversary. Provided, however, that the effects on the basic cash value of supplemental life insurance or annuity benefits or of family coverage, as described in subsection D or H of this section, whichever is applicable, shall be the same as are the effects specified in subsection D or H of this section, whichever is applicable on the cash surrender values defined in that subsection.
The nonforfeiture factor for each policy year shall be an amount equal to a percentage of the adjusted premium for the policy year, as defined in subsection G or I of this section, whichever is applicable. Except as is required by the next succeeding sentence of this paragraph, such percentage:
1. Must be the same percentage for each policy year between the second policy anniversary and the later of (i) the fifth policy anniversary and (ii) the first policy anniversary at which there is available under the policy a cash surrender value in an amount, before including any paid-up additions and before deducting any indebtedness, of at least two-tenths of one percent (2/10 of 1%) of either the amount of insurance, if the insurance be uniform in amount, or the average amount of insurance at the beginning of each of the first ten (10) policy years; and
2. Must be such that no percentage after the later of the two policy anniversaries specified in the preceding paragraph 1 may apply to fewer than five (5) consecutive policy years.
Provided, that no basic cash value may be less than the value which would be obtained if the adjusted premiums for the policy, as defined in subsection G or I of this section, whichever is applicable, were substituted for the nonforfeiture factors in the calculation of the basic cash value.
All adjusted premiums and present values referred to in this section shall for a particular policy be calculated on the same mortality and interest bases as are used in demonstrating the policy's compliance with the other subsections of this section. The cash surrender values referred to in this subsection shall include any endowment benefits provided for by the policy.
Any cash surrender value available other than in the event of default in a premium payment due on a policy anniversary, and the amount of any paid-up nonforfeiture benefit available under the policy in the event of default in a premium payment shall be determined in manners consistent with the manners specified for determining the analogous minimum amounts in subsections B, C, D and K and paragraph 4 of subsection I of this section. The amounts of any cash surrender values and of any paid-up nonforfeiture benefits granted in connection with additional benefits such as those listed as items (1) through (6) in subsection K of this section shall conform with the principles of this subsection.
M. 1. This section shall not apply to any of the following:
2. For purposes of determining the applicability of this act, the age at expiry for a joint term life insurance policy shall be the age at expiry of the oldest life.
Added by Laws 1957, p. 375, § 4029, operative July 1, 1957. Amended by Laws 1961, p. 271, § 2, emerg. eff. July 5, 1961; Laws 1963, c. 25, § 3; Laws 1974, c. 31, § 2, emerg. eff. April 11, 1974; Laws 1978, c. 55, § 2, emerg. eff. March 17, 1978; Laws 1982, c. 118, § 2, emerg. eff. April 6, 1982; Laws 1993, c. 248, § 4, eff. Sept. 1, 1993; Laws 2014, c. 50, § 3, eff. Nov. 1, 2014.

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