2017 Delaware Code
Title 18 - Insurance Code
CHAPTER 75. DELAWARE VIATICAL SETTLEMENTS ACT
§ 7508. Disclosure to viator.

(a) With each application for a viatical settlement, a viatical settlement provider or viatical settlement broker shall provide the viator with at least the following disclosures no later than the time the application for the viatical settlement contract is signed by all parties. The disclosures must be provided in a separate document that is signed by the viator and the viatical settlement provider or viatical settlement broker, and must provide the following information:

(1) There are possible alternatives to viatical settlement contracts, including any accelerated death benefits or policy loans offered under the viator's life insurance policy.

(2) That a viatical settlement broker represents exclusively the viator, and not the insurer or the viatical settlement provider, and owes a fiduciary duty to the viator, including a duty to act according to the viator's instructions and in the best interest of the viator.

(3) Some or all of the proceeds of the viatical settlement may be taxable under federal income tax and state franchise and income taxes, and that assistance should be sought from a professional tax advisor.

(4) Proceeds of the viatical settlement could be subject to the claims of creditors.

(5) Receipt of the proceeds of a viatical settlement may adversely affect the viator's eligibility for Medicaid or other government benefits or entitlements, and that advice should be obtained from the appropriate government agencies.

(6) The viator has the right to rescind a viatical settlement contract before the earlier of 60 calendar days after the date upon which the viatical settlement contract is executed by all parties or 30 calendar days after the viatical settlement proceeds have been paid to the viator, as provided in § 7510 of this title. Rescission, if exercised by the viator, is effective only if both notice of the rescission is given, and the viator repays all proceeds and any premiums, loans and loan interest paid on account of the viatical settlement within the rescission period. If the insured dies during the rescission period, the viatical settlement contract is deemed to have been rescinded, subject to repayment by the viator or the viator's estate of all viatical settlement proceeds and any premiums, loans and loan interest the viatical settlement within 60 days of the insured's death.

(7) Funds will be sent to the viator within 3 business days after the viatical settlement provider has received the insurer or group administrator's written acknowledgment that ownership of the policy or interest in the certificate has been transferred and the beneficiary has been designated.

(8) Entering into a viatical settlement contract may cause other rights or benefits, including conversion rights and waiver of premium benefits that may exist under the policy or certificate, to be forfeited by the viator, and that assistance should be sought from a financial adviser.

(9) Disclosure to a viator must include distribution of a brochure describing the process of viatical settlements. The NAIC's form for the brochure must be used unless another form is developed or approved by the Commissioner.

(10) The disclosure document must contain the following language:

"All medical, financial or personal information solicited or obtained by a viatical settlement provider or viatical settlement broker about an insured, including the insured's identity or the identity of family members, a spouse or a significant other may be disclosed as necessary to effect the viatical settlement between the viator and the viatical settlement provider. If you are asked to provide this information, you will be asked to consent to the disclosure. The information may be provided to someone who buys the policy or provides funds for the purchase. You may be asked to renew your permission to share information every two years.''

(11) Following execution of a viatical settlement contract, the insured may be contacted for the purpose of determining the insured's health status and to confirm the insured's residential or business street address and telephone number, or as otherwise provided in this Act. This contact must be limited to once every 3 months if the insured has a life expectancy of more than 1 year, and no more than once per month if the insured has a life expectancy of 1 year or less. All such contracts may only be made by a viatical settlement provider licensed in the state in which the viator resided at the time of the viatical settlement, or by the authorized representative of a duly licensed viatical settlement provider.

(b) A viatical settlement provider shall provide the viator with at least the following disclosures no later than the date the viatical settlement contract is signed by all parties. The disclosures must be conspicuously displayed in the viatical settlement contract or in a separate document signed by the viator and provide the following information:

(1) The affiliation, if any, between the viatical settlement provider and the issuer of an insurance policy to be viaticated.

(2) The document must include the name, business address, and telephone number of the viatical settlement provider.

(3) Any affiliations or contractual arrangements between the viatical settlement provider and the viatical settlement purchaser.

(4) If an insurance policy to be viaticated has been issued as a joint policy or involves family riders or any coverage of a life other than the insured under the policy to be viaticated, the viator must be informed of the possible loss of coverage on the other lives under the policy and must be advised to consult with his or her insurance producer or the company issuing the policy for advice on the proposed viatical settlement.

(5) State the dollar amount of the current death benefit payable to the viatical settlement provider under the policy or certificate. If known, the viatical settlement provider shall also disclose the availability of any additional guaranteed insurance benefits, the dollar amount of any accidental death and dismemberment benefits under the policy or certificate, and the extent to which the viator's interest in those benefits will be transferred as a result of the viatical settlement contract.

(6) State whether the funds will be escrowed with an independent third party during the transfer process, and if so, provide the name, business address, and telephone number of the independent third party escrow agent, and the fact that the viator or owner may inspect or receive copies of the relevant escrow or trust agreements or documents.

(c) A viatical settlement broker shall provide the viator with at least the following disclosures no later than the date the viatical settlement contract is signed by all parties. The disclosures must be conspicuously displayed in the viatical settlement contract or in a separate document signed by the viator and provide the following information:

(1) The name, business address, and telephone number of the viatical settlement broker.

(2) A full, complete, and accurate description of all offers, counter-offers, acceptances and rejections relating to the proposed viatical settlement contract.

(3) A written disclosure of any affiliations or contractual arrangements between the viatical settlement broker and any person making an offer in connection with the proposed viatical settlement contracts.

(4) The amount and method of calculating the broker's compensation. The term "compensation'' includes anything of value paid or given to a viatical settlement broker for the placement of a policy.

(5) Where any portion of the viatical settlement broker's compensation, as defined in paragraph (c)(4) of this section, is taken from a proposed viatical settlement offer, the broker shall disclose the total amount of the viatical settlement offer and the percentage of the viatical settlement offer comprised by the viatical settlement broker's compensation.

(d) If the viatical settlement provider transfers ownership or changes the beneficiary of the insurance policy, the provider shall communicate in writing the change in ownership or beneficiary to the insured within 20 days after the change.

72 Del. Laws, c. 132, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 81 Del. Laws, c. 172, § 1.;