(a) An accelerated death benefit shall not be advertised or marketed as long-term care insurance, nursing home insurance, or home care insurance. Any advertisement, description, comparison, marketing material, or illustration shall state in bold type:
“This is a life insurance benefit that also gives you the option to accelerate some or all of the death benefit in the event that you meet the criteria for a qualifying event described in the policy. This policy or certificate does not provide long-term care insurance subject to California long-term care insurance law. This policy or certificate is not a California Partnership for Long-Term Care program policy. This policy or certificate is not a Medicare supplement (policy or certificate).”
An insurer shall also include in any advertisement or marketing materials for these insurance policies all of the following:
(1) A statement that the policy or certificate pays proceeds that are or are not intended to receive favorable tax treatment under Section 101(g) of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. Sec. 101(g)).
(2) A description of the accelerated death benefits provided by the policy, including a description of the acceleration of the death benefit to pay an unrestricted cash benefit when the insured has become chronically ill or otherwise eligible for benefits from a qualified event.
(3) A comparison between the benefits provided by life insurance policies, riders, or endorsements that contain accelerated death benefits and the benefits provided by long-term care insurance.
(b) Advertising for term life insurance policies or certificates that contain an accelerated death benefit to be attached to an existing term life policy shall include a prominent statement that the accelerated death benefit will terminate with the policy.
(c) On or after January 1, 2014, every insurer offering accelerated death benefits shall file with the commissioner copies of all printed advertising for accelerated death benefits that the insurer proposes to disseminate in the state prior to use of that material. The commissioner shall have the authority to disapprove any advertising that does not meet the requirements of this code. If the commissioner disapproves the advertising, the insurer shall not use and shall stop using the disapproved advertising. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed as requiring prior approval of advertising prior to dissemination in this state.
(Added by Stats. 2013, Ch. 345, Sec. 7. (SB 281) Effective January 1, 2014.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018