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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>65230</law_id><section_number>38.2-3538</section_number><catch_line>Payment of benefits</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>38.2-3525</reference><reference>38.2-3526</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="35">Accident and Sickness Insurance Policies</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="3">Group Accident and Sickness Insurance Policies</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Each group accident and sickness <span class="dictionary">insurance</span> policy shall contain a provision that benefits for loss of life of the <span class="dictionary">person</span> insured shall be payable to the beneficiary designated by the <span class="dictionary">person</span> insured. However, if the policy contains conditions pertaining to family status, the beneficiary may be the family member specified by the policy terms. In either case, payment of those benefits is subject to the provisions of the policy in the event no such designated or specified beneficiary is living at the death of the <span class="dictionary">person</span> insured. The policy may also provide that if any benefit is payable to the estate of a <span class="dictionary">person</span>, or to a <span class="dictionary">person</span> who is a <span class="dictionary">minor</span> or otherwise not competent to give a valid release, the <span class="dictionary">insurer</span> may pay the benefit, up to an amount not exceeding $5,000, to any relative by blood or connection by marriage of the <span class="dictionary">person</span> who is deemed by the <span class="dictionary">insurer</span> to be equitably entitled to the benefit. The policy may also provide that all or any portion of any benefits provided for health care services may be paid to the health care services provider. All other benefits of the policy shall be payable to the <span class="dictionary">person</span> insured.</p></section></text><history>1986, c. 562; 1991, c. 87.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
