Section 27-15-7

Life insurance policy provisions - Dividends.

There shall be a provision in participating policies that, beginning not later than the end of the third policy year, the insurer shall annually ascertain and apportion the divisible surplus, if any, that will accrue on the policy anniversary or other dividend date specified in the policy, provided the policy is in force and all premiums to that date are paid. Except as provided in this section, any dividend becoming payable shall, at the option of the party entitled to elect such option, be either:

(1) Payable in cash; or

(2) Applied to any one of such other dividend options as may be provided by the policy. If any such other dividend options are provided, the policy shall further state which option shall be automatically effective if such party shall not have elected some other option. If the policy specifies a period within which such other dividend option may be elected, such period shall be not less than 30 days following the date on which such dividend is due and payable. The annually apportioned dividend shall be deemed to be payable in cash within the meaning of subdivision (1) of this section, even though the policy provides that payment of such dividend is to be deferred for a specified period, provided such period does not exceed six years from the date of apportionment and that interest will be added to such dividend at a specified rate and provided, further, that upon the maturity, surrender or other expiry of the policy, any such dividend, and interest thereon, shall not be forfeited to the insurer. If a participating policy provides that the benefit under any paid-up nonforfeiture provision is to be participating, it may provide that any divisible surplus becoming payable or apportioned while the insurance is in force under such nonforfeiture provision shall be applied in the manner set forth in the policy.

(Acts 1971, No. 407, p. 707, §352.)