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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>59869</law_id><section_number>38.2-1715</section_number><catch_line>Prohibited advertisement of Association coverage in insurance sales; notice to policy owners</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="38.2">Insurance</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="17">Virginia Life, Accident and Sickness Insurance Guaranty Association</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="1">Establishment and Operation of the Association</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> No <span class="dictionary">person</span>, including a <span class="dictionary">member insurer</span>, agent, or affiliate of a <span class="dictionary">member insurer</span>, shall make, publish, disseminate, circulate, or place before the public, or cause, directly or indirectly, to be made, published, disseminated, circulated or placed before the public, in any newspaper, magazine, or other publication, or in the form of a notice, circular, pamphlet, letter, or poster, or over any radio station or television station, or in any other way, any advertisement, announcement, or statement, written or oral, that uses the existence of the <span class="dictionary">Association</span> of the Commonwealth for the purpose of sales, solicitation, or inducement to purchase any form of <span class="dictionary">insurance</span> or other coverage covered by this chapter. This subsection shall not apply to the <span class="dictionary">Association</span> or any other entity that does not sell or solicit <span class="dictionary">insurance</span> or coverage by a health maintenance organization. <a id="paragraph-219301" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-1715/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Association</span> shall prepare a summary document describing the general purposes and current limitations of this chapter and that complies with subsection C. This document shall be submitted to the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> for approval. At the expiration of the sixtieth day after the date on which the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> approves the document, a <span class="dictionary">member insurer</span> may not deliver a policy or contract to a <span class="dictionary">policy owner</span>, <span class="dictionary">contract owner</span>, certificate holder, or enrollee unless the summary document is delivered to the <span class="dictionary">policy owner</span>, <span class="dictionary">contract owner</span>, certificate holder, or enrollee at the time of delivery of the policy or contract. The document shall be posted on the <span class="dictionary">Association</span>&#x2019;s website and shall also be available upon request by a <span class="dictionary">policy owner</span>, <span class="dictionary">contract owner</span>, certificate holder, or enrollee. The distribution, delivery, or contents or interpretation of this document does not guarantee that either the policy or the contract or the <span class="dictionary">policy owner</span>, <span class="dictionary">contract owner</span>, certificate holder, or enrollee is covered in the event of the impairment or insolvency of a <span class="dictionary">member insurer</span>. The summary document shall be revised by the <span class="dictionary">Association</span> as amendments to the chapter may require. Failure to receive this document does not give the <span class="dictionary">policy owner</span>, <span class="dictionary">contract owner</span>, certificate owner, certificate holder, enrollee, or insured any greater rights than those stated in this chapter. <a id="paragraph-219302" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-1715/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> The document prepared under subsection B shall contain a clear and conspicuous disclaimer on its face. The <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> shall establish the form and content of the disclaimer. The disclaimer shall: <a id="paragraph-219303" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-1715/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> <span class="dictionary">State</span> the name and address of the <span class="dictionary">Association</span> and the <span class="dictionary">Bureau of Insurance</span>; <a id="paragraph-219304" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-1715/#C1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Prominently warn the <span class="dictionary">policy owner</span>, <span class="dictionary">contract owner</span>, certificate holder, or enrollee that the <span class="dictionary">Association</span> may not cover the policy or contract or, if coverage is available, it will be subject to substantial limitations and exclusions and conditioned on continued residence in the Commonwealth; <a id="paragraph-219305" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-1715/#C2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> <span class="dictionary">State</span> the types of policies or <span class="dictionary">contracts</span> for which guaranty funds will provide coverage; <a id="paragraph-219306" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-1715/#C3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> <span class="dictionary">State</span> that the <span class="dictionary">member insurer</span> and its agents are prohibited by <span class="dictionary">law</span> from using the existence of the <span class="dictionary">Association</span> for the purpose of sales, solicitation, or inducement to purchase any form of insurance or health maintenance organization coverage; <a id="paragraph-219307" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-1715/#C4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> <span class="dictionary">State</span> that the <span class="dictionary">policy owner</span>, <span class="dictionary">contract owner</span>, certificate holder, or enrollee should not rely on coverage under the <span class="dictionary">Association</span> when selecting an insurer or health maintenance organization; <a id="paragraph-219308" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-1715/#C5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C6" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> Explain rights available and procedures for filing a complaint to allege a violation of any provisions of this chapter; and <a id="paragraph-219309" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-1715/#C6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C7" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">7.</span> Provide other information as directed by the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> including but not limited to, sources for information about the financial condition of <span class="dictionary">insurers</span> provided that the information is not proprietary and is subject to disclosure under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Short title; policy" href="/2.2-3700/">2.2-3700</a> et seq.). <a id="paragraph-219310" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-1715/#C7"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> A <span class="dictionary">member insurer</span> shall retain <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> of compliance with subsection B for so long as the policy or contract for which the notice is given remains in effect. <a id="paragraph-219311" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-1715/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1976, c. 330, &#xA7; 38.1-482.33; 1986, c. 562; 2010, c. 510; 2011, c. 306; 2018, c. 706.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
