The benefits payable under any policy or contract of group health insurance shall be payable to the employee or other insured member of the group or to some beneficiary or beneficiaries designated by him, other than the employer or the association or any officer thereof as such; but if there is no designated beneficiary as to all or any part of the insurance at the death of the employee or member, then the amount of insurance payable for which there is no designated beneficiary shall be payable to the estate of the employee or member, except that the insurer may in such case, at its option, pay such insurance to any one or more of the following surviving relatives of the employee or member: Wife, husband, mother, father, child or children, brothers or sisters; and except that payment of benefits for expenses incurred on account of hospitalization or medical or surgical aid, as provided in section 2811, may be made by the insurer to the hospital or other person or persons furnishing such aid. Payment so made shall discharge the insurer's obligation with respect to the amount of insurance so paid. [1969, c. 132, §1(NEW).]
24-A M.R.S. § 2810