Vermont Statutes
Chapter 112 - Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association
§ 4158. Powers and duties of the Association

§ 4158. Powers and duties of the Association
In addition to the powers and duties enumerated in other sections of this subchapter:
(1) If a member insurer is an impaired insurer, the Association, in its discretion and subject to any conditions imposed by the Association that do not impair the contractual obligations of the impaired insurer and that are approved by the Commissioner, may:
(A) guarantee, assume, or reinsure, or cause to be guaranteed, assumed, or reinsured, any or all of the policies or contracts of the impaired insurer; and
(B) provide such monies, pledges, loans, notes, guarantees, or other means as are proper to effectuate subdivision (A) of this subdivision (1) and ensure payment of the contractual obligations of the impaired insurer pending action under subdivision (A) of this subdivision (1).
(2) If a member insurer is an insolvent insurer, the Association, in its discretion, shall either:
(A)(i)(I) Guarantee, assume, or reinsure, or cause to be guaranteed, assumed, or reinsured, the policies or contracts of the insolvent insurer; or
(II) ensure payment of the contractual obligations of the insolvent insurer; and
(ii) Provide monies, pledges, loans, notes, guarantees, or other means reasonably necessary to discharge the Association’s duties; or
(B) Provide benefits and coverages in accordance with the following provisions:
(i) With respect to life and health insurance policies and annuities, ensure payment of benefits for premiums identical to the premiums and benefits, except for terms of conversion and renewability, that would have been payable under the policies or contracts of the insolvent insurer, for claims incurred:
(I) With respect to group policies and contracts, not later than the earlier of the next renewal date under those policies or contracts or 45 days, but in no event less than 30 days, after the date on which the Association becomes obligated with respect to the policies and contracts.
(II) With respect to nongroup policies, contracts, and annuities, not later than the earlier of the next renewal date, if any, under the policies or contracts or one year, but in no event less than 30 days, from the date on which the Association becomes obligated with respect to the policies or contracts.
(ii) Make diligent efforts to provide all known insureds or annuitants, for nongroup policies and contracts, or group policy owners with respect to group policies and contracts, 30 days’ notice of the termination, pursuant to subdivision (i) of this subdivision (B), of the benefits provided.
(iii) With respect to nongroup life and health insurance policies and annuities covered by the Association, make available to each known insured or annuitant, or owner if other than the insured or annuitant, and with respect to an individual formerly insured or formerly an annuitant under a group policy who is not eligible for replacement group coverage, make available substitute coverage on an individual basis in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (iv) of this subdivision (B), if the insureds or annuitants had a right under law or the terminated policy or annuity to convert coverage to individual coverage or to continue an individual policy or annuity in force until a specified age or for a specified time, during which the insurer had no right unilaterally to make changes in any provision of the policy or annuity or had a right only to make changes in premium by class.
(iv)(I) In providing the substitute coverage required under subdivision (iii) of this subdivision (B), the Association may offer either to reissue the terminated coverage or to issue an alternative policy.
(II) Alternative or reissued policies shall be offered without requiring evidence of insurability, and shall not provide for any waiting period or exclusion that would not have applied under the terminated policy.
(III) The Association may reinsure any alternative or reissued policy.
(v)(I) Alternative policies adopted by the Association shall be subject to the approval of the domiciliary insurance commissioner and the receivership court. The Association may adopt alternative policies of various types for future issuance without regard to any particular impairment or insolvency.
(II) Alternative policies shall contain at least the minimum statutory provisions required in this State and provide benefits that shall not be unreasonable in relation to the premium charged. The Association shall set the premium in accordance with a table of rates that it shall adopt. The premium shall reflect the amount of insurance to be provided and the age and class of risk of each insured, but shall not reflect any changes in the health of the insured after the original policy was last underwritten.
(III) Any alternative policy issued by the Association shall provide coverage of a type similar to that of the policy issued by the impaired or insolvent insurer, as determined by the Association.
(vi) If the Association elects to reissue terminated coverage at a premium rate different from that charged under the terminated policy, the premium shall be set by the Association in accordance with the amount of insurance provided and the age and class of risk, subject to approval of the domiciliary insurance commissioner and the receivership court;
(vii) The Association’s obligations with respect to coverage under any policy of the impaired or insolvent insurer or under any reissued or alternative policy shall cease on the date the coverage or policy is replaced by another similar policy by the policy owner, the insured, or the Association;
(viii) When proceeding under subdivision (B) with respect to a policy or contract carrying guaranteed minimum interest rates, the Association shall ensure the payment or crediting of a rate of interest consistent with subdivision 4153(b)(2)(C) of this title.
(3)(A) In carrying out its duties under subdivisions (1)(B) and (2) of this section, the Association may request that there be imposed policy liens, contract liens, moratoriums on payments, or other similar means, and such liens, moratoriums, or similar means may be imposed if the Commissioner:
(i) Finds that the amounts that can be assessed under this subchapter are less than the amounts needed to ensure full and prompt performance of the impaired or insolvent insurer’s contractual obligations, or that the economic or financial conditions as they affect member insurers are sufficiently adverse to render the imposition of policy or contract liens, moratoriums, or similar means to be in the public interest; and
(ii) Approves the specific policy liens, contract liens, moratoriums, or similar means to be used.
(B) Before being obligated under subdivisions (1)(B) and (2) of this section the Association may request that there be imposed temporary moratoriums or liens on payments of cash values and policy loans and such temporary moratoriums and liens may be imposed if they are approved by the Commissioner.
(4) The Association shall have no liability under this section for any covered policy of a foreign or alien insurer whose domiciliary jurisdiction or state of entry provides by statute or regulation, for residents of this State protection substantially similar to that provided by this subchapter for residents of other states.
(5) The Association may render assistance and advice to the Commissioner, upon the Commissioner’s request, concerning rehabilitation, payment of claims, continuations of coverage, or the performance of other contractual obligations of any impaired or insolvent insurer.
(6) The Association shall have standing to appear before any court in this State with jurisdiction over an impaired or insolvent insurer concerning which the Association is or may become obligated under this subchapter. Such standing shall extend to all matters germane to the powers and duties of the Association.
(7)(A) Any person receiving benefits under this subchapter shall be deemed to have assigned the person’s rights under the covered policy to the Association to the extent of the benefits received because of this subchapter whether the benefits are payments of contractual obligations or continuation of coverage. The Association may require an assignment to it of such rights by any payee, policy or contract owner, beneficiary, insured, or annuitant as a condition precedent to the receipt of any rights or benefits conferred by this subchapter upon such person. The Association shall be subrogated to these rights against the assets of any impaired or insolvent insurer.
(B) The subrogation rights of the Association under this subdivision shall have the same priority against the assets of the impaired or insolvent insurer as that possessed by the person entitled to receive benefits under this subchapter.
(8) The benefits for which the Association may become liable shall in no event exceed the lesser of:
(A) the contractual obligations for which the insurer is liable or would have been liable if it were not an impaired or insolvent insurer; or
(B)(i) with respect to any one life, regardless of the number of policies or contracts:
(I) $300,000.00 in life insurance death benefits, but not more than $100,000.00 in net cash surrender and net cash withdrawal values for life insurance;
(II) in health insurance benefits:
(aa) $100,000.00 for coverages not defined as disability insurance or basic hospital, medical, and surgical insurance, or major medical insurance, or long-term care insurance, including any net cash surrender and net cash withdrawal values;
(bb) $300,000.00 for disability insurance and $300,000.00 for long-term care insurance;
(cc) $500,000.00 for basic hospital, medical, and surgical insurance, or major medical insurance; or
(III) $250,000.00 in the present value of annuity benefits, including net cash surrender and net cash withdrawal values; or
(ii) with respect to each individual participating in a governmental retirement plan established under Section 401, 403(b), or 457 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code covered by an unallocated annuity contract or the beneficiaries of each such individual if deceased, in the aggregate, $250,000.00 in present value annuity benefits, including net cash surrender and net cash withdrawal values; or
(iii) with respect to each payee of a structured settlement annuity (or beneficiary or beneficiaries of the payee if deceased) for which coverage is provided under subdivision 4153(a)(3) of this title, $250,000.00 in present value annuity benefits, in the aggregate, including net cash surrender and net cash withdrawal values, if any; or
(iv) with respect to any one contract holder covered by any unallocated annuity contract not included in subdivision (B)(ii) of this subdivision (8), $5,000,000.00 in benefits, irrespective of the number of such contracts held by that contract holder; and
(v) provided, however, that in no event shall the Association be liable to expend more than $300,000.00 in the aggregate with respect to any one individual under subdivisions (B)(i)(I), (B)(i)(II)(aa) and (bb), (B)(i)(III), (B)(ii), and (B)(iii) of this subdivision (8); and provided further, however, that in no event shall the Association be liable to expend more than $500,000.00 in the aggregate with respect to any one individual under subdivision (B)(i)(II)(cc) of this subdivision (8).
(9) The Association may:
(A) Enter into such contracts as are necessary or proper to carry out the provisions and purposes of this subchapter.
(B) Sue or be sued, including taking any legal actions necessary or proper for recovery of any unpaid assessments under section 4159 of this title.
(C) Borrow money to effect the purposes of this subchapter. Any notes or other evidence of indebtedness of the Association not in default shall be legal investments for domestic insurers and may be carried as admitted assets.
(D) Employ or retain such persons as are necessary to handle the financial transactions of the Association, and to perform such other functions as become necessary or proper under this subchapter.
(E) Negotiate and contract with any liquidator, rehabilitator, conservator, or ancillary receiver to carry out the powers and duties of the Association.
(F) Take such legal action as may be necessary to avoid payment of improper claims.
(G) Exercise, for the purposes of this subchapter and to the extent approved by the Commissioner, the powers of a domestic life or health insurer, but in no case may the Association issue insurance policies or annuity contracts other than those issued to perform the contractual obligations of the impaired or insolvent insurer.
(10)(A)(i) At any time within 180 days after the date of the order of liquidation, the Association may elect to succeed to the rights and obligations of the ceding member insurer that relate to policies or annuities covered, in whole or in part, by the Association, in each case under any one or more reinsurance contracts entered into by the insolvent insurer and its reinsurers and selected by the Association. Any such assumption shall be effective as of the date of the order of liquidation. The election shall be effected by the Association or the National Organization of Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Associations (NOLHGA) on its behalf sending written notice, return receipt requested, to the affected reinsurers.
(ii) To facilitate the earliest practicable decision about whether to assume any of the contracts of reinsurance, and in order to protect the financial position of the estate, the receiver, and each reinsurer of the ceding member insurer shall make available upon request to the Association or to NOLHGA on its behalf as soon as possible after commencement of formal delinquency proceedings: copies of in-force contracts of reinsurance and all related files and records relevant to the determination of whether such contracts should be assumed; and notices of any defaults under the reinsurance contacts or any known event or condition which with the passage of time could become a default under the reinsurance contracts.
(iii) The following subdivisions (I) through (IV) shall apply to reinsurance contracts so assumed by the Association:
(I) The Association shall be responsible for all unpaid premiums due under the reinsurance contracts for periods both before and after the date of the order of liquidation, and shall be responsible for the performance of all other obligations to be performed after the date of the order of liquidation, in each case which relate to policies or annuities covered, in whole or in part, by the Association. The Association may charge policies or annuities covered in part by the Association, through reasonable allocation methods, the costs for reinsurance in excess of the obligations of the Association and shall provide notice and an accounting of these charges to the receiver.
(II) The Association shall be entitled to any amounts payable by the reinsurer under the reinsurance contracts with respect to losses or events that occur in periods after the date of the order of liquidation and that relate to policies or annuities covered, in whole or in part, by the Association, provided that, upon receipt of any such amounts, the Association shall be obliged to pay to the beneficiary under the policy or annuity on account of which the amounts were paid a portion of the amount equal to the lesser of:
(aa) The amount received by the Association; and
(bb) The excess of the amount received by the Association over the amount equal to the benefits paid by the Association on account of the policy or annuity less the retention of the insurer applicable to the loss or event.
(III) Within 30 days following the Association’s election (the “election date”), the Association and each reinsurer under contracts assumed by the Association shall calculate the net balance due to or from the Association under each reinsurance contract as of the election date with respect to policies or annuities covered, in whole or in part, by the Association, which calculation shall give full credit to all items paid by either the insurer or its receiver or the reinsurer prior to the election date. The reinsurer shall pay the receiver any amounts due for losses or events prior to the date of the order of liquidation, subject to any set-off for premiums unpaid for periods prior to the date, and the Association or reinsurer shall pay any remaining balance due the other, in each case within five days of the completion of the aforementioned calculation. Any disputes over the amounts due to either the Association or the reinsurer shall be resolved by arbitration pursuant to the terms of the affected reinsurance contracts or, if the contract contains no arbitration clause, as otherwise provided by law. If the receiver has received any amounts due the Association pursuant to subdivision (iii)(II) of this subdivision (A), the receiver shall remit the same to the Association as promptly as practicable.
(IV) If the Association or receiver, on the Association’s behalf, within 60 days of the election date, pays the unpaid premiums due for periods both before and after the election date that relate to policies or annuities covered, in whole or in part, by the Association, the reinsurer shall not be entitled to terminate the reinsurance contracts for failure to pay premium insofar as the reinsurance contracts relate to policies or annuities covered, in whole or in part, by the Association, and shall not be entitled to set off any unpaid amounts due under other contracts, or unpaid amounts due from parties other than the Association, against amounts due the Association.
(B) During the period from the date of the order of liquidation until the election date (or, if the election date does not occur, until 180 days after the date of the order of liquidation):
(i)(I) Neither the Association nor the reinsurer shall have any rights or obligations under reinsurance contracts that the Association has the right to assume under subdivision (A) of this subdivision (10), whether for periods prior to or after the date of the order of liquidation; and
(II) The reinsurer, the receiver, and the Association shall, to the extent practicable, provide each other data and records reasonably requested;
(ii) Provided that once the Association has elected to assume a reinsurance contract, the parties’ rights and obligations shall be governed by subdivision (A) of this subdivision (10).
(C) If the Association does not elect to assume a reinsurance contract by the election date pursuant to subdivision (A) of this subdivision (10), the Association shall have no rights or obligations, in each case for periods both before and after the date of the order of liquidation, with respect to the reinsurance contract.
(D) When policies or annuities, or covered obligations with respect to those policies or annuities, are transferred to an assuming insurer, reinsurance on the policies or annuities may also be transferred by the Association, in the case of contracts assumed under subdivision (A) of this subdivision (10), subject to the following:
(i) Unless the reinsurer and the assuming insurer agree otherwise, the reinsurance contract transferred shall not cover any new policies of insurance or annuities in addition to those transferred;
(ii) The obligations described in subdivision (A) of this subdivision (10) shall no longer apply with respect to matters arising after the effective date of the transfer; and
(iii) Notice shall be given in writing, return receipt requested, by the transferring party to the affected reinsurer not less than 30 days prior to the effective date of the transfer.
(E) The provisions of this subdivision (10) shall supersede the provisions of any law or of any affected reinsurance contract that provides for or requires any payment of reinsurance proceeds, on account of losses or events that occur in periods after the date of the order of liquidation, to the receiver of the insolvent insurer or any other person. The receiver shall remain entitled to any amounts payable by the reinsurer under the reinsurance contracts with respect to losses or events that occur in periods prior to the date of the order of liquidation, subject to applicable setoff provisions.
(F) Except as otherwise provided in this section, nothing in this subdivision (10) shall alter or modify the terms and conditions of any reinsurance contract. Nothing in this section shall abrogate or limit any rights of any reinsurer to claim that it is entitled to rescind a reinsurance contract. Nothing in this section shall give a policyholder or beneficiary an independent cause of action against a reinsurer that is not otherwise set forth in the reinsurance contract. Nothing in this section shall limit or affect the Association’s rights as a creditor of the estate against the assets of the estate. Nothing in this section shall apply to reinsurance agreements covering property or casualty risks. (Added 1971, No. 170 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. April 27, 1972; amended 1993, No. 55, § 6, eff. June 3, 1993; 2009, No. 42, § 16, eff. May 27, 2009; 2009, No. 137 (Adj. Sess.), §§ 7d, 7e, eff. May 29, 2010; 2015, No. 97 (Adj. Sess.), § 17; 2021, No. 105 (Adj. Sess.), § 161, eff. July 1, 2022.)