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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>72251</law_id><section_number>38.2-3318.1</section_number><catch_line>Group life insurance requirements</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>38.2-1800</reference><reference>38.2-3319.1</reference><reference>38.2-3319.2</reference><reference>38.2-3320.1</reference><reference>38.2-3321.1</reference><reference>38.2-3323</reference><reference>38.2-3324</reference><reference>38.2-3331</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="33">Life Insurance Policies</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="2">Group Life Insurance Policies</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Except as provided in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Limits of group life insurance" href="/38.2-3319.1/">38.2-3319.1</a>, no policy of group life <span class="dictionary">insurance</span> shall be delivered in this Commonwealth unless it conforms to one of the following descriptions:</p></section>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> A policy issued to an employer, or to the trustees of a fund established by an employer, which employer or trustees shall be deemed the policyholder, to insure employees of the employer for the benefit of <span class="dictionary">persons</span> other than the employer, subject to the following requirements: <a id="paragraph-260241" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-3318.1/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> The employees eligible for <span class="dictionary">insurance</span> under the policy shall be all of the employees of the employer, or all of any class or classes thereof. The policy may provide that the term &#x201C;employees&#x201D; include:
				a. The employees of one or more subsidiary corporations, and the employees, individual proprietors, and partners of one or more affiliated corporations, proprietorships or partnerships if the business of the employer and of such affiliated corporations, proprietorships, or partnerships is under common control;
				b. The individual proprietor or partners if the employer is an individual proprietorship or partnership;
				c. Retired employees, former employees and directors of a corporate employer; or
				d. If the policy is issued to insure the employees of a public body, elected or appointed officials. <a id="paragraph-260242" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-3318.1/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> The premium for the policy shall be paid either from the employer&#x2019;s funds or from funds contributed by the insured employees, or from both. Except as provided in subdivision 3 of this subsection, a policy on which no part of the premium is to be derived from funds contributed by the insured employees must insure all eligible employees, except those who reject such coverage in writing. <a id="paragraph-260243" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-3318.1/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> An <span class="dictionary">insurer</span> may exclude or limit the coverage on any <span class="dictionary">person</span> as to whom <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> of individual insurability is not satisfactory to the <span class="dictionary">insurer</span>. <a id="paragraph-260244" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-3318.1/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> A policy which is: <a id="paragraph-260245" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-3318.1/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Not subject to Chapter 37.1 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Credit accident and sickness insurance rates" href="/38.2-3727/">38.2-3727</a> et seq.) of this title, and <a id="paragraph-260246" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-3318.1/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Issued to a <span class="dictionary">creditor</span> or its parent holding <span class="dictionary">company</span> or to a trustee or trustees or agent designated by two or more <span class="dictionary">creditors</span>, which <span class="dictionary">creditor</span>, holding <span class="dictionary">company</span>, affiliate, trustee, trustees or agent shall be deemed the policyholder, to insure debtors of the <span class="dictionary">creditor</span>, or <span class="dictionary">creditors</span>, subject to the following requirements:
				a. The debtors eligible for <span class="dictionary">insurance</span> under the policy shall be all of the debtors of the <span class="dictionary">creditor</span> or <span class="dictionary">creditors</span>, or all of any class or classes thereof. The policy may provide that the term &#x201C;debtors&#x201D; includes: <a id="paragraph-260247" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-3318.1/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B21" class="indent-2"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Borrowers of money or purchasers or lessees of goods, services, or property for which payment is arranged through a credit transaction; <a id="paragraph-260248" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-3318.1/#B21"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B22" class="indent-2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> The debtors of one or more subsidiary corporations; and <a id="paragraph-260249" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-3318.1/#B22"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B23" class="indent-2"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> The debtors of one or more affiliated corporations, proprietorships, or partnerships if the business of the policyholder and of such affiliated corporations, proprietorships, or partnerships is under common control.
					b. The premium for the policy shall be paid either from the <span class="dictionary">creditor</span>&#x2019;s funds, or from charges collected from the insured debtors, or from both. Except as provided in subdivision 3 of this subsection, a policy on which no part of the premium is to be derived from the funds contributed by insured debtors specifically for their <span class="dictionary">insurance</span> must insure all eligible debtors. <a id="paragraph-260250" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-3318.1/#B23"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> An <span class="dictionary">insurer</span> may exclude any debtors as to whom <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> of individual insurability is not satisfactory to the <span class="dictionary">insurer</span>. <a id="paragraph-260251" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-3318.1/#B3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> The amount of the <span class="dictionary">insurance</span> on the life of any debtor shall at no time exceed the greater of the scheduled or actual amount of unpaid indebtedness to the <span class="dictionary">creditor</span>. <a id="paragraph-260252" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-3318.1/#B4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> The <span class="dictionary">insurance</span> may be payable to the <span class="dictionary">creditor</span> or any successor to the right, title, and interest of the <span class="dictionary">creditor</span>. Such payment shall reduce or extinguish the unpaid indebtedness of the debtor to the extent of such payment and any excess of the <span class="dictionary">insurance</span> shall be payable to the estate of the insured. <a id="paragraph-260253" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-3318.1/#B5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B6" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> Notwithstanding the provisions of the above subsections, <span class="dictionary">insurance</span> on agricultural credit transaction commitments may be written up to the amount of the loan commitment on a nondecreasing or level term plan. <span class="dictionary">Insurance</span> on educational credit transaction commitments may be written up to the amount of the loan commitment less the amount of any repayments made on the loan. <a id="paragraph-260254" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-3318.1/#B6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> A policy issued to a labor union, or similar employee organization, which shall be deemed to be the policyholder, to insure members of such union or organization for the benefit of <span class="dictionary">persons</span> other than the union or organization or any of its officials, representatives, or agents, subject to the following requirements: <a id="paragraph-260255" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-3318.1/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> The members eligible for <span class="dictionary">insurance</span> under the policy shall be all of the members of the union or organization, or all of any class or classes thereof. <a id="paragraph-260256" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-3318.1/#C1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> The premium for the policy shall be paid either from funds of the union or organization, or from funds contributed by the insured members specifically for their <span class="dictionary">insurance</span>, or from both. Except as provided in subdivision 3 of this subsection, a policy on which no part of the premium is to be derived from funds contributed by the insured members specifically for their <span class="dictionary">insurance</span> must insure all eligible members, except those who reject such coverage in writing. <a id="paragraph-260257" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-3318.1/#C2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> An <span class="dictionary">insurer</span> may exclude or limit the coverage on any <span class="dictionary">person</span> as to whom <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> of individual insurability is not satisfactory to the <span class="dictionary">insurer</span>. <a id="paragraph-260258" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-3318.1/#C3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> A policy issued to or for (i) a multiple employer welfare arrangement, a rural electric cooperative, or a rural electric telephone cooperative as these terms are defined in 29 U.S.C. &#xA7;&#xA0;1002, or (ii) a trust or to the trustees of a fund established or adopted by two or more employers, or by one or more labor unions or similar employee organizations, or by one or more employers and one or more labor unions or similar employee organizations, which trust or trustees shall be deemed the policyholder, to insure employees of the employers or members of the unions or organizations for the benefit of <span class="dictionary">persons</span> other than the employees or the unions or organizations, subject to the following requirements: <a id="paragraph-260259" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-3318.1/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> The <span class="dictionary">persons</span> eligible for <span class="dictionary">insurance</span> shall be all of the employees of the employers or all of the members of the unions or organizations, or all of any class or classes thereof. The policy may provide that the term employees includes:
				a. The employees of one or more subsidiary corporations, and the employees, individual proprietors, and partners of one or more affiliated corporations, proprietorships or partnerships if the business of the employer and of such affiliated corporations, proprietorships or partnerships is under common control;
				b. The individual proprietor or partners if the employer is an individual proprietorship or partnership;
				c. Retired employees, former employees and directors of a corporate employer; or
				d. The trustees or their employees, or both, if their duties are principally connected with such trusteeship. <a id="paragraph-260260" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-3318.1/#D1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> The premium for the policy shall be paid from funds contributed by the employer or employers of the insured <span class="dictionary">persons</span>, or by the union or unions or similar employee organizations, or by both, or from funds contributed by the insured <span class="dictionary">persons</span> or from both the insured <span class="dictionary">persons</span> and the employers or unions or similar employee organizations. Except as provided in subdivision 3 of this subsection, a policy on which no part of the premium is to be derived from funds contributed by the insured <span class="dictionary">persons</span> specifically for their <span class="dictionary">insurance</span> must insure all eligible <span class="dictionary">persons</span>, except those who reject such coverage in writing. <a id="paragraph-260261" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-3318.1/#D2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> An <span class="dictionary">insurer</span> may exclude or limit the coverage on any <span class="dictionary">person</span> as to whom <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> of individual insurability is not satisfactory to the <span class="dictionary">insurer</span>. <a id="paragraph-260262" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-3318.1/#D3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> 1. A policy issued to an association or to a trust or to the trustees of a fund established, created, or maintained for the benefit of members of one or more associations. The association or associations shall:
			a. Have at the outset a minimum of 100 <span class="dictionary">persons</span>;
			b. Have been organized and maintained in good faith for purposes other than that of obtaining <span class="dictionary">insurance</span>;
			c. Have been in active existence for at least five years; and
			d. Have a constitution and bylaws which provide that: (i) the association or associations hold regular meetings not less than annually to further purposes of the members, (ii) except for credit unions, the association or associations collect dues or solicit contributions from members, and (iii) the members have voting <span class="dictionary">privileges</span> and representation on the governing board and committees. <a id="paragraph-260263" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-3318.1/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> The policy shall be subject to the following requirements:
				a. The policy may insure members of such association or associations, employees thereof or employees of members, or one or more of the preceding or all of any class or classes thereof for the benefit of <span class="dictionary">persons</span> other than the employee&#x2019;s employer.
				b. The premium for the policy shall be paid from funds contributed by the association or associations, or by employer members, or by both, or from funds contributed by the covered <span class="dictionary">persons</span> or from both the covered <span class="dictionary">persons</span> and the association, associations, or employer members.
				c. Except as provided in clause d of this subdivision, a policy on which no part of the premium is to be derived from funds contributed by the covered <span class="dictionary">persons</span> specifically for the <span class="dictionary">insurance</span> must insure all eligible <span class="dictionary">persons</span>, except those who reject such coverage in writing.
				d. An <span class="dictionary">insurer</span> may exclude or limit the coverage on any <span class="dictionary">person</span> as to whom <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> of individual insurability is not satisfactory to the <span class="dictionary">insurer</span>. <a id="paragraph-260264" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-3318.1/#E2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> A policy issued to a credit union or to a trustee or trustees or agent designated by two or more credit unions, which credit union, trustee, trustees, or agent shall be deemed policyholder, to insure members of such credit union or credit unions for the benefit of <span class="dictionary">persons</span> other than the credit union or credit unions, trustee or trustees, or agent or any of their officials, subject to the following requirements: <a id="paragraph-260265" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-3318.1/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> The members eligible for <span class="dictionary">insurance</span> shall be all of the members of the credit union or credit unions, or all of any class or classes thereof. <a id="paragraph-260266" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-3318.1/#F1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> The premium for the policy shall be paid by the policyholder from the credit union&#x2019;s funds and, except as provided in subdivision 3 of this subsection, must insure all eligible members. <a id="paragraph-260267" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-3318.1/#F2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> An <span class="dictionary">insurer</span> may exclude or limit the coverage on any member as to whom <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> of individual insurability is not satisfactory to the <span class="dictionary">insurer</span>. <a id="paragraph-260268" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-3318.1/#F3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="G"><p><span class="prefix-number">G.</span> A policy issued to an incorporated association as described in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Societies to which chapter applies" href="/38.2-4000/">38.2-4000</a>, whose principal purpose is to assist its members in (i) financial planning for their funerals and burials and (ii) obtaining <span class="dictionary">insurance</span> for the payment, in whole or in part, for funeral, burial and other expenses. The association shall be deemed the policyholder, to insure the members of the association for the benefit of <span class="dictionary">persons</span> other than the association. The policy shall be subject to the following requirements: <a id="paragraph-260269" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-3318.1/#G"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="G1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> A policy may not be issued to an association in which membership is conditioned upon the member&#x2019;s designation at any time of a specific funeral director or cemetery as the beneficiary under the <span class="dictionary">insurance</span>, so as to deprive the representatives or family of the deceased member from, or in any way control them in, obtaining funeral supplies and services in an open competitive market. <a id="paragraph-260270" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-3318.1/#G1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="G2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> The policy shall insure members of such association. <a id="paragraph-260271" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-3318.1/#G2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="G3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> The premium for the policy shall be paid from funds contributed by the association, or from funds contributed by the covered <span class="dictionary">persons</span>, or both. <a id="paragraph-260272" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-3318.1/#G3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="G4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Except as provided in subdivision 5 of this subsection, a policy on which no part of the premium is to be derived from funds contributed by the covered <span class="dictionary">persons</span> specifically for the <span class="dictionary">insurance</span> must insure all eligible <span class="dictionary">persons</span> except those who reject the coverage in writing. <a id="paragraph-260273" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-3318.1/#G4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="G5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> An <span class="dictionary">insurer</span> may exclude or limit the coverage on any <span class="dictionary">person</span> as to whom <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> of individual insurability is not satisfactory to the <span class="dictionary">insurer</span>. <a id="paragraph-260274" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-3318.1/#G5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1998, c. 154.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
