§ 58-60-10. Definitions.
Unless the context of use indicates a different meaning, for the purposes of this Part, the following definitions shall apply:
(1) Buyer's Guide. - A Buyer's Guide is a document furnished pursuant to G.S. 58-60-15, which shall contain all the requirements of and be in substantial compliance with G.S. 58-60-25.
(2) Cash Dividend. - A Cash Dividend is the current illustrated dividend which can be applied toward payment of gross premium.
(3) Equivalent Level Annual Dividend. - The Equivalent Level Annual Dividend is calculated by applying the following steps:
a. Accumulate the annual cash dividends at five percent (5%) interest compounded annually to the end of the 10th and 20th policy years;
b. Divide each accumulation of paragraph a of this subdivision by an interest factor that converts it into one equivalent level annual amount that, if paid at the beginning of each year, would accrue to the values in paragraph a of this subdivision over the respective periods stipulated in paragraph a of this subdivision. If the period is 10 years, the factor is 13.207 and if the period is 20 years, the factor is 34.719.
c. Divide the results of paragraph b of this subdivision by the number of thousands of the Equivalent Level Death Benefit to arrive at the Equivalent Level Annual Dividend.
(4) Equivalent Level Death Benefit. - The Equivalent Level Death Benefit of a policy or term life insurance rider is an amount calculated as follows:
a. Accumulate the guaranteed amount payable upon death, regardless of the cause of death, at the beginning of each policy year for 10 and 20 years at five percent (5%) interest compounded annually to the end of the 10th and 20th policy years respectively;
b. Divide each accumulation of paragraph a of this subdivision by an interest factor that converts it into one equivalent level annual amount that, if paid at the beginning of each year, would accrue to the value in paragraph a of this subdivision over the respective periods stipulated in paragraph a of this subdivision. If the period is 10 years, the factor is 13.207 and if the period is 20 years, the factor is 34.719.
(5) Generic Name. - Generic Name means a short title which is descriptive of the premium and benefit patterns of a policy or a rider.
(6) Life Insurance Cost Indexes. -
a. Life Insurance Surrender Cost Index. The Life Insurance Surrender Cost Index is calculated by applying the following steps:
1. Determine the guaranteed cash surrender value, if any, available at the end of the 10th and 20th policy years;
2. For participating policies, add the terminal dividend payable upon surrender, if any, to the accumulation of the annual Cash Dividends at five percent (5%) interest compounded annually to the end of the period selected and add this sum to the amount determined in subdivision a;
3. Divide the result of subparagraph 2 (subparagraph 1 for guaranteed-cost policies) by an interest factor that converts it into an equivalent level annual that, if paid at the beginning of each year, would accrue to the value in subparagraph 2 (subparagraph 1 for guaranteed-cost policies) over the respective periods stipulated in subparagraph 1. If the period is 10 years, the factor is 13.207 and if the period is 20 years, the factor is 34.719;
4. Determine the equivalent level premium by accumulating each annual premium payable for the basic policy or rider at five percent (5%) interest compounded annually to the end of the period stipulated in subparagraph 1 and dividing the result by the respective factors stated in subparagraph 3 (this amount is the annual premium payable for a level premium plan);
5. Subtract the result of subparagraph 3 from subparagraph 4;
6. Divide the result of subparagraph 5 by the number of thousands of the Equivalent Level Death Benefit to arrive at the Life Insurance Surrender Cost Index.
b. Life Insurance Net Payment Cost Index. The Life Insurance Net Payment Cost Index is calculated in the same manner as the comparable Life Insurance Cost Index except that the cash surrender value and any terminal dividend are set at zero.
(7) Policy Summary. - Policy Summary means a written statement describing the elements of the policy including but not limited to:
a. A prominently placed title in at least 10-point boldface capital letters as follows: STATEMENT OF POLICY COST AND BENEFIT INFORMATION;
b. The name and address of the insurance producer, or, if no insurance producer is involved, a statement of the procedure to be followed in order to receive responses to inquiries regarding the Policy Summary;
c. The full name and home office or administrative office address of the company in which the life insurance policy is to be or has been written;
d. The Generic Name of the basic policy and each rider;
e. The following amounts, where applicable, for the first five policy years and representative policy years thereafter sufficient to clearly illustrate the premium and benefit patterns, including, but not necessarily limited to, the years for which Life Insurance Cost Indexes are displayed and at least one age from 60 through 65 or maturity, whichever is earlier:
1. The annual premium for the basic policy;
2. The annual premium for each optional rider;
3. Guaranteed amount payable upon death, at the beginning of the policy year regardless of the cause of death other than suicide, or other specifically enumerated exclusions, which is provided by the basic policy and each optional rider, with benefits provided under the basic policy and each rider shown separately;
4. Total guaranteed cash surrender values at the end of the year with values shown separately for the basic policy and each rider;
5. Cash Dividends payable at the end of the year with values shown separately for the basic policy and each rider. (Dividends need not be displayed beyond the 20th policy year);
6. Guaranteed endowment amounts payable under the policy which are not included under guaranteed cash surrender values above.
f. The effective policy loan annual percentage interest rate, if the policy contains this provision, specifying whether this rate is applied in advance or in arrears. If the policy loan interest rate is variable, the Policy Summary includes the maximum annual percentage rate;
g. Life Insurance Cost Indexes for 10 and 20 years but in no case beyond the premium paying period. Separate indexes must be displayed for the basic policy and for each optional term life insurance rider. Such indexes need not be included for optional riders which are limited to benefits such as accidental death benefits, disability waiver of premium, preliminary term life insurance coverage of less than 12 months and guaranteed insurability benefits nor for basic policies or optional riders covering more than one life;
h. The Equivalent Level Annual Dividend, in the case of participating policies and participating optional term life insurance riders, under the same circumstances and for the same durations at which Life Insurance Cost Indexes are displayed;
i. A Policy Summary which includes dividends shall also include a statement that dividends are based on the company's current dividend scale and are not guaranteed in addition to a statement in close proximity to the Equivalent Level Annual Dividend as follows: An explanation of the intended use of the Equivalent Level Annual Dividend is included in the Life Insurance Buyer's Guide;
j. A statement in close proximity to the Life Insurance Cost Indexes as follows: An explanation of the intended use of these indexes is provided in the Life Insurance Buyer's Guide.
k. The date on which the Policy Summary is prepared.
The Policy Summary must consist of a separate document. All information required to be disclosed must be set out in such a manner as to not minimize or render any portion thereof obscure. Any amounts which remain level for two or more years of the policy may be represented by a single number if it is clearly indicated what amounts are applicable for each policy year. Amounts in subparagraph e of this paragraph shall be listed in total, not on a per thousand nor per unit basis. If more than one insured is covered under one policy or rider, guaranteed death benefits shall be displayed separately for each insured or for each class of insureds if death benefits do not differ within the class. Zero amounts shall be displayed as zero and shall not be displayed as a blank space. If the insurer makes a material revision in the terms and conditions under which it will limit its right to change any nonguaranteed factor, it shall, no later than the first policy anniversary following the revision, advise each affected policy owner residing in this State. (1979, c. 447; 2005-234, ss. 1.5, 1.6; 2022-46, s. 14(xxx).)
