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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>68773</law_id><section_number>38.2-305</section_number><catch_line>Contents of policies</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>38.2-300</reference><reference>38.2-4214</reference><reference>38.2-4319</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="38.2">Insurance</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="3">Provisions Relating to Insurance Policies and Contracts</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Each <span class="dictionary">insurance</span> policy or <span class="dictionary">contract</span> shall specify: <a id="paragraph-248960" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-305/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> The names of the parties to the <span class="dictionary">contract</span>; <a id="paragraph-248961" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-305/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> The subject of the <span class="dictionary">insurance</span>; <a id="paragraph-248962" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-305/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> The risks insured against; <a id="paragraph-248963" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-305/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> The time the <span class="dictionary">insurance</span> takes effect and, except in the case of group <span class="dictionary">insurance</span>, title <span class="dictionary">insurance</span>, and <span class="dictionary">insurance</span> written under perpetual policies, the period during which the <span class="dictionary">insurance</span> is to continue; <a id="paragraph-248964" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-305/#A4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> A statement of the premium, except in the case of group <span class="dictionary">insurance</span> and title <span class="dictionary">insurance</span>; and <a id="paragraph-248965" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-305/#A5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A6" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> The conditions pertaining to the <span class="dictionary">insurance</span>.
				In addition, each policy of property and casualty <span class="dictionary">insurance</span> shall contain a list of all policy forms and endorsements applicable to that policy, which shall display the respective form numbers and, if those form numbers are not unique identifiers of such forms, the applicable edition dates. <a id="paragraph-248966" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-305/#A6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Each new or renewal insurance policy, <span class="dictionary">contract</span>, certificate, or <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> of coverage issued to a policyholder, covered <span class="dictionary">person</span>, or enrollee shall be accompanied by a notice stating substantially:
			&#x201C;IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING YOUR INSURANCE&#x201D;
			&#x201C;In the event you need to contact someone about this insurance for any reason, please contact your agent. If no agent was involved in the sale of this insurance, or if you have additional questions, you may contact the <span class="dictionary">insurance company</span> issuing this insurance at the following address and telephone number: [Insert the appropriate address and telephone number, toll free number if available, for the company's home or regional office].&#x201D;
			&#x201C;If you have been unable to contact or obtain satisfaction from the company or the agent, you may contact the Virginia <span class="dictionary">State</span> Corporation <span class="dictionary">Commission</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">Bureau of Insurance</span> at: [Insert the appropriate address, toll free phone number, and phone number for out-of-<span class="dictionary">state</span> calls for the <span class="dictionary">Bureau of Insurance</span>].&#x201D;
			&#x201C;Written correspondence is preferable so that a record of your inquiry is maintained. When contacting your agent, company or the <span class="dictionary">Bureau of Insurance</span>, have your policy number available.&#x201D;
			Health maintenance organizations shall add the following: &#x201C;We recommend that you familiarize yourself with our grievance procedure and make use of it before taking any other action.&#x201D; <a id="paragraph-248967" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-305/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> In any life insurance or annuity <span class="dictionary">contract</span> containing a beneficiary designation in which the designated beneficiary is the spouse of the policy owner, the following notice shall be included with the policy when issued, either attached to or incorporated into the front or first page of such <span class="dictionary">contract</span>:
			&#x201C;BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION MAY NOT APPLY IN THE EVENT OF <span class="dictionary">ANNULMENT</span> OR DIVORCE&#x201D;
			&#x201C;Under Virginia <span class="dictionary">law</span> (Virginia Code &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Revocation of death benefits by divorce or annulment" href="/20-111.1/">20-111.1</a>), a revocable beneficiary designation in a policy owned by one spouse that names the other spouse as beneficiary becomes void upon the entry of a <span class="dictionary">decree</span> of <span class="dictionary">annulment</span> or divorce, and the death benefit prevented from passing to a former spouse will be paid as if the former spouse had predeceased the decedent. In the event of <span class="dictionary">annulment</span> or divorce proceedings, and if it is the <span class="dictionary">intent</span> of the parties that the beneficiary designation of the former spouse is to continue, you are advised to make certain that one of the following courses of action is taken prior to the entry of a <span class="dictionary">decree</span> of <span class="dictionary">annulment</span> or divorce: (i) change the beneficiary designation to make it irrevocable; (ii) change the ownership of the policy or <span class="dictionary">contract</span>; (iii) execute a separate written agreement stating the intention of both parties that the beneficiary designation is to remain in effect beyond the date of entry of the <span class="dictionary">decree</span> of <span class="dictionary">annulment</span> or divorce; or (iv) make certain that the <span class="dictionary">decree</span> of <span class="dictionary">annulment</span> or divorce contains a provision stating that the beneficiary designation is not to be revoked pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Revocation of death benefits by divorce or annulment" href="/20-111.1/">20-111.1</a>.&#x201D; <a id="paragraph-248968" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-305/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> If, under the <span class="dictionary">contract</span>, the exact amount of premiums is determinable only at the termination of the <span class="dictionary">contract</span>, a statement of the basis and <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">rates</span></span> upon which the final premium is to be determined and paid shall be furnished to any policy-examining bureau having <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> or to the insured upon request. <a id="paragraph-248969" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-305/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> This section shall not apply to <span class="dictionary">surety</span> <span class="dictionary">insurance contracts</span>. <a id="paragraph-248970" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-305/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1952, c. 317, &#xA7; 38.1-333; 1986, c. 562; 1987, c. 519; 1988, c. 333; 1997, c. 688; 2000, c. 193; 2012, c. 264; 2013, c. 27.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
