Md. Code Regs. 31.09.09.07

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 22, November 1, 2024

Section 31.09.09.07 - Standards for Basic Illustrations

A. Format.

(1) A basic illustration shall conform with the requirements of this section.

(2) The illustration shall be labeled with the date on which it was prepared.

(3) Each page, including any explanatory notes or pages, shall be numbered and show its relationship to the total number of pages in the illustration; for example, the fourth page of a seven page illustration shall be labeled "page 4 of 7 pages".

(4) The assumed dates of payment receipt and benefit pay-out within a policy year shall be clearly identified.

(5) If the age of the proposed insured is shown as a component of the tabular detail, the age shall be issue age plus the number of years the policy is assumed to have been in force.

(6) The assumed payments on which the illustrated benefits and values are based shall be identified as premium outlay or contract premium, as applicable. For policies that do not require a specific contract premium, the illustrated payments shall be identified as premium outlay.

(7) Guaranteed death benefits and values available upon surrender, if any, for the illustrated premium outlay or contract premium shall be shown and clearly labeled guaranteed.

(8) If the illustration shows any nonguaranteed elements, those elements cannot be based on a scale more favorable to the policy owner than the insurer's illustrated scale at any duration. These elements shall be clearly labeled as nonguaranteed.

(9) The guaranteed elements, if any, shall be:

(a) Shown before corresponding nonguaranteed elements; and

(b) Specifically referred to on any page of an illustration that shows or describes only the nonguaranteed elements; for example, "see page one for guaranteed elements".

(10) The account or accumulation value of a policy, if shown, shall be:

(a) Identified by the name this value is given in the policy being illustrated; and

(b) Shown in close proximity to the corresponding value available upon surrender.

(11) The value available upon surrender shall be:

(a) Identified by the name this value is given in the policy being illustrated; and

(b) The amount available to the policy owner in a lump sum after deduction of surrender charges, policy loans, and policy loan interests, as applicable.

(12) Illustrations may show policy benefits and values in graphic or chart form in addition to the tabular form.

(13) Any illustration of nonguaranteed elements shall be accompanied by a statement indicating that the:

(a) Benefits and values are not guaranteed;

(b) Assumptions on which they are based are subject to change by the insurer; and

(c) Actual results may be more or less favorable.

(14) If the illustration shows that the premium payer may have the option to allow policy charges to be paid using nonguaranteed values, the illustration shall clearly disclose that a charge continues to be required and that, depending on actual results, the premium payer may need to continue or resume premium outlays. Similar disclosure shall be made for premium outlay of lesser amounts or shorter duration than the contract premium. If a contract premium is due, the premium outlay display may not be left blank or show zero unless accompanied by an asterisk or similar mark to draw attention to the fact that the policy is not paid up.

(15) If the applicant plans to use dividends or policy values, guaranteed or nonguaranteed, to pay all or a portion of the contract premium or policy charges, or for any other purpose, the illustration may reflect those plans and the impact on future policy benefits and values.

B. Narrative Summary. A brief illustration shall include the following:

(1) A brief description of the policy being illustrated, including a statement that it is a life insurance policy;

(2) A brief description of the premium outlay or contract premium, as applicable, for the policy;

(3) A brief description of any policy features, riders, or options, guaranteed or nonguaranteed, shown in the basic illustration and the impact they may have on the benefits and values of the policy;

(4) Identification and a brief definition of column headings and key terms used in the illustration; and

(5) A statement containing in substance that: "This illustration assumes that the currently illustrated nonguaranteed elements will continue unchanged for all years shown. This is not likely to occur, and actual results may be more or less favorable than those shown."

C. Numeric Summary.

(1) Following the narrative summary, a basic illustration shall include a numeric summary of the death benefits and values and the premium outlay and contract premium, as applicable. For a policy that provides for a contract premium, the guaranteed death benefits and values shall be based on the contract premium. This summary shall be shown for at least policy years 5, 10, and 20, and at age 70, if applicable, on the following three bases:

(a) Policy guarantees;

(b) Insurer's illustrated scale; and

(c) Insurer's illustrated scale used but with the nonguaranteed elements reduced as follows:

(i) Dividends at 50 percent of the dividends contained in the illustrated scale used,

(ii) Nonguaranteed credited interest at rates that are the average of the guaranteed rates and the rates contained in the illustrated scale used, and

(iii) All nonguaranteed charges, including but not limited to term insurance charges, and mortality and expense charges, at rates that are the average of the guaranteed rates and the rates contained in the illustrated scale used.

(2) For multiple life policies, the summary shall show policy years 5, 10, 20, and 30 for each of the three bases identified in §C(1) of this regulation.

(3) In addition, if coverage would cease before policy maturity or age 100, the year in which coverage ceases shall be identified for each of the three bases identified in §C(1) of this regulation.

D. Statements. Statements substantially similar to the following shall be included on the same page as the numeric summary and signed by the applicant, or the policy owner in the case of an illustration provided at time of delivery, as required in this chapter:

(1) A statement to be signed and dated by the applicant or policy owner reading as follows: "I have received a copy of this illustration and understand that any nonguaranteed elements illustrated are subject to change and could be either higher or lower. The agent has told me they are not guaranteed."; and

(2) A statement to be signed and dated by the insurance producer or other authorized representative of the insurer reading as follows: "I certify that this illustration has been presented to the applicant and that I have explained that any nonguaranteed elements illustrated are subject to change. I have made no statements that are inconsistent with the illustration."

E. Tabular Detail.

(1) A basic illustration shall include the following for at least each policy year from 1 to 10 and for every fifth policy year after that ending at age 100, policy maturity, or final expiration and, except for term insurance beyond the twentieth year, for any year in which the premium outlay and contract premium, if applicable, is to change:

(a) The premium outlay and mode the applicant plans to pay and the contract premium, as applicable;

(b) The corresponding guaranteed death benefit, as provided in the policy; and

(c) The corresponding guaranteed value available upon surrender, as provided in the policy.

(2) For a policy that provides for a contract premium, the guaranteed death benefit and value available upon surrender shall correspond to the contract premium.

(3) Nonguaranteed elements may be shown if described in the contract. In the case of an illustration for a policy on which the insurer intends to credit terminal dividends, they may be shown if the insurer's current practice is to pay terminal dividends. If any nonguaranteed elements are shown, they shall be shown at the same durations as the corresponding guaranteed elements, if any. If no guaranteed benefit or value is available at any duration for which a nonguaranteed benefit or value is shown, a zero shall be displayed in the guaranteed column.

F. For a policy that does not require payment of a specific contract premium, the illustration required in §B(2) of this regulation shall show the premium outlay that must be paid to guarantee coverage for the term of the contract, subject to maximum premiums allowable to qualify as a life insurance policy under the applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.

Md. Code Regs. 31.09.09.07