Va. Code Ann. tit. 38.2, ch. 60

in effect

Va. Code Ann. § 38.2-6000 Definitions

As used in this chapter: "Advertising" means any written, electronic, or printed communication or any communication by means of recorded telephone messages or transmitted on radio, television, the Internet, or similar communications media, including film strips, motion pictures, and videos published, disseminated, circulated or placed before the public, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of creating an interest in or inducing a person to sell a life insurance policy pursuant to a viatical settlement contract. "Business of viatical settlements" means an activity involved in, but not limited to, the offering, solicitation, negotiation, procurement, effectuation, purchasing, investing, financing, monitoring, tracking, underwriting, selling, transferring, assigning, pledging, or hypothecating in any other manner, of viatical settlement contracts or purchase agreements. "Chronically ill" means (i) being unable to perform at least two activities of daily living, which shall include eating, toileting, transferring, bathing, dressing or continence, (ii) requiring substantial supervision by another person to protect the individual from threats to health and safety due to severe cognitive impairment, or (iii) having a level of disability similar to that described in clause (i) as determined by the federal Secretary of Health and Human Resources. "Financing entity" means an underwriter, placement agent, lender, purchaser of securities, purchaser of a policy or certificate from a viatical settlement provider, credit enhancer, or any entity that has a direct ownership in a policy or certificate that is the subject of a viatical settlement contract, but whose principal activity related to the transaction is providing funds to effect the viatical settlement or purchase of one or more viaticated policies and who has an agreement in writing with one or more licensed viatical settlement providers to finance the acquisition of viatical settlement contracts. Financing entity does not include a non-accredited investor or viatical settlement purchaser. "Fraudulent viatical settlement act" includes: 1. Acts or omissions committed by any person who, knowingly or with intent to defraud, for the purpose of depriving another of property or for pecuniary gain, commits or permits its employees or its agents to engage in acts including: a. Presenting, causing to be presented or preparing with knowledge or belief that it will be presented to or by a viatical settlement provider, viatical settlement broker, viatical settlement purchaser, financing entity, insurer, insurance producer, or any other person, false material information, or concealing material information, as part of, in support of, or concerning a fact material to one or more of the following: (i) an application for the issuance of a viatical settlement contract or insurance policy; (ii) the underwriting of a viatical settlement contract or insurance policy; (iii) a claim for payment or benefit pursuant to a viatical settlement contract or insurance policy; (iv) premiums paid on an insurance policy; (v) payments and changes in ownership or beneficiary made in accordance with the terms of a viatical settlement contract, or insurance policy; (vi) the reinstatement or conversion of an insurance policy; (vii) in the solicitation, offer, effectuation or sale of a viatical settlement contract or insurance policy; (viii) the issuance of written evidence of a viatical settlement contract or insurance policy; or (ix) a financing transaction; b. Employing any device, scheme, or artifice to defraud related to viaticated policies; 2. In the furtherance of a fraud or to prevent the detection of a fraud any person commits or permits its employees or its agents to: (i) remove, conceal, alter, destroy, or sequester from the Commission the assets or records of a licensee or other person engaged in the business of viatical settlements; (ii) misrepresent or conceal the financial condition of a licensee, financing entity, insurer, or other person; (iii) transact the business of viatical settlements in violation of laws requiring a license, certificate of authority, or other legal authority for the transaction of the business of viatical settlements; or (iv) file with the Commission or the chief insurance regulatory official of another jurisdiction a document containing false information or otherwise conceals information about a material fact from the Commission; 3. Embezzlement, theft, misappropriation or conversion of moneys, funds, premiums, credits, or other property of a viatical settlement provider, insurer, insured, viator, insurance policyowner, or any other person engaged in the business of viatical settlements or insurance; 4. Recklessly entering into, brokering, or otherwise dealing in a viatical settlement contract, the subject of which is a life insurance policy that was obtained by presenting false information concerning any fact material to the policy or by concealing, for the purpose of misleading another, information concerning any fact material to the policy, where the viator or the viator's agent intended to defraud the policy's issuer. "Recklessly" means engaging in the conduct in conscious and clearly unjustifiable disregard of a substantial likelihood of the existence of the relevant facts or risks, such disregard involving a gross deviation from acceptable standards of conduct; or 5. Attempting to commit, assisting, aiding or abetting in the commission of, or conspiracy to commit the acts or omissions specified in this subsection. "Licensee under this chapter" means a person licensed by the Commission as a viatical settlement provider or viatical settlement broker. "NAIC" means National Association of Insurance Commissioners. "Policy" means an individual or group policy, group certificate, contract or arrangement of life insurance affecting the rights of a resident of this Commonwealth or bearing a reasonable relation to this Commonwealth, regardless of whether delivered or issued for delivery in this Commonwealth. "Related provider trust" means a titling trust or other trust established by a licensed viatical settlement provider or a financing entity for the sole purpose of holding the ownership or beneficial interest in purchased policies in connection with a financing transaction. The trust shall have a written agreement with the licensed viatical settlement provider under which the licensed viatical settlement provider is responsible for ensuring compliance with all statutory and regulatory requirements and under which the trust agrees to make all records and files related to viatical settlement transactions available to the Commission as if those records and files were maintained directly by the licensed viatical settlement provider. "Special purpose entity" means a corporation, partnership, trust, limited liability company, or other similar entity formed solely to provide either directly or indirectly access to institutional capital markets for a financing entity or licensed viatical settlement provider. "Terminally ill" means having an illness or sickness that can reasonably be expected to result in death in 24 months or less. "Viatical settlement broker" means a person that on behalf of another and for a fee, commission or other valuable consideration introduces viators to viatical settlement providers, or offers or attempts to negotiate viatical settlement contracts between a viator and one or more viatical settlement providers. A viatical settlement broker may act as agent for a viatical settlement provider or on behalf of the viator, provided that a viatical settlement broker shall not be deemed to act exclusively for the viator unless, pursuant to written agreement between the parties, the broker agrees (i) to disclose fully all interests in the viatical settlement contract and relationships with the viatical settlement provider, including its affiliates and appointed or contracted agents, and (ii) that compensation for services as a viatical settlement broker shall be paid directly and only by the viator. The term does not include an attorney, certified public accountant, or a financial planner accredited by a nationally recognized accreditation agency, who is retained to represent the viator and whose compensation is not paid directly or indirectly by the viatical settlement provider or viatical settlement purchaser. "Viatical settlement contract" means a written agreement establishing the terms under which compensation or anything of value will be paid, which compensation or value is less than the expected death benefit of the insurance policy or certificate, in return for the viator's assignment, transfer, sale, devise or bequest of the death benefit or ownership of any portion of the insurance policy or certificate of insurance. A viatical settlement contract also includes a contract for a loan or other financing transaction with a viator secured primarily by an individual or group life insurance policy, other than a loan by a life insurance company pursuant to the terms of the life insurance contract, or a loan secured by the cash value of a policy. A viatical settlement contract includes an agreement with a viator to transfer ownership or change the beneficiary designation at a later date regardless of the date that compensation is paid to the viator. "Viatical settlement contracts" do not include accelerated benefits provisions contained in life insurance policies, whether issued with the original policy or as a rider, according to the regulations promulgated by the Commission. "Viatical settlement provider" means a person, other than a viator, that enters into or effectuates a viatical settlement contract. Viatical settlement provider does not include: (i) a bank, savings bank, savings and loan association, credit union, or other licensed lending institution that takes an assignment of a life insurance policy as collateral for a loan; (ii) the issuer of a life insurance policy providing accelerated benefits under § 38.2-3115.1 and pursuant to the contract; (iii) an authorized or eligible insurer that provides stop loss coverage to a viatical settlement provider, viatical settlement purchaser, financing entity, special purpose entity or related provider trust; (iv) a natural person who enters into or effectuates no more than one agreement in a calendar year for the transfer of life insurance policies for any value less than the expected death benefit; (v) a financing entity; (vi) a special purpose entity; (vii) a related provider trust; (viii) a viatical settlement purchaser; or (ix) an accredited investor or qualified institutional buyer as defined respectively in Regulation D, Rule 501 or Rule 144A of the Federal Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and who purchases a viaticated policy from a viatical settlement provider and does not communicate with the viator or insured who is a resident of this Commonwealth except through a licensee under this chapter. "Viatical settlement purchaser" means a person who gives a sum of money as consideration for a life insurance policy or an interest in the death benefits of a life insurance policy, or a person who owns or acquires or is entitled to a beneficial interest in a trust that owns a viatical settlement contract or is the beneficiary of a life insurance policy that has been or will be the subject of a viatical settlement contract, for the purpose of deriving an economic benefit. Viatical settlement purchaser does not include (i) a licensee under this chapter; (ii) an accredited investor or qualified institutional buyer as defined respectively in Regulation D, Rule 501 or Rule 144A of the Federal Securities Act of 1933, as amended; (iii) a financing entity; (iv) a special purpose entity; or (v) a related provider trust. "Viaticated policy" means a life insurance policy or certificate that has been acquired by a viatical settlement provider pursuant to a viatical settlement contract. "Viator" means the owner of a life insurance policy or a certificate holder under a group policy who enters or seeks to enter into a viatical settlement contract. For the purposes of this chapter and the application of Article 6.1 (§ 38.2-1865.1 et seq.) of Chapter 18 of this title, a viator shall not be limited to an owner of a life insurance policy or a certificate holder under a group policy insuring the life of an individual with a terminal or chronic illness except where specifically addressed. Viator does not include (i) a licensee under this chapter; (ii) an accredited investor or qualified institutional buyer as defined respectively in Regulation D, Rule 501 or Rule 144A of the Federal Securities Act of 1933, as amended; (iii) a financing entity; (iv) a special purpose entity; or (v) a related provider trust. 1997, c. 814 , § 38.2-5700; 2003, c. 717 .

Va. Code Ann. § 38.2-6001 Viatical settlement brokers

No person shall act as a viatical settlement broker with a resident of this Commonwealth without first obtaining a license from the Commission in accordance with Article 6.1 (§ 38.2-1865.1 et seq.) of Chapter 18 of this title. If there is more than one viator on a single policy, and the viators are residents of different states, the viatical settlement broker shall be required to hold a license in the state in which the viator having the largest percentage resides or, if the viators hold equal ownership, the viatical settlement broker shall be required to hold a license in the state of residence of one viator agreed upon in writing by all the viators. 2003, c. 717 .

Va. Code Ann. § 38.2-6002 Viatical settlement providers, license requirements

A. No person shall act as a viatical settlement provider with a resident of this Commonwealth without first obtaining a license from the Commission. 1. A person seeking to be licensed as a viatical settlement provider in this Commonwealth shall apply for such license in a form acceptable to the Commission and shall pay to the Commission a nonrefundable application fee in an amount prescribed by the Commission. On and after July 1, 2003, such fee shall be not less than $300 and not more than $1,500. The application fee required by this subdivision shall be collected by the Commission, paid directly into the state treasury, and credited to the "Bureau of Insurance Special Fund — State Corporation Commission" for the maintenance of the Bureau of Insurance as provided in subsection B of § 38.2-400 . 2. A license issued anytime prior to July 1, 2004, shall expire on June 30, 2004, unless renewed as set forth herein. 3. On or before March 1 of each year commencing March 1, 2004, a licensed viatical settlement provider shall remit a renewal application form and nonrefundable renewal fee in the form and amount prescribed by the Commission. Such fee shall be not less than $300 and not more than $1,500. The renewal fee required by this subdivision shall be collected by the Commission and paid directly into the state treasury and credited to the "Bureau of Insurance Special Fund — State Corporation Commission" for the maintenance of the Bureau of Insurance as provided in subsection B of § 38.2-400 . 4. A viatical settlement provider's license expiring on June 30 may be renewed on July 1 for a one-year period ending on June 30 of the following year if the required renewal application and a nonrefundable renewal fee have been received and the license is not terminated, suspended, or revoked at the time of renewal. The renewal fee required by this subdivision shall be collected by the Commission and paid directly into the state treasury and credited to the "Bureau of Insurance Special Fund — State Corporation Commission" for the maintenance of the Bureau of Insurance as provided in subsection B of § 38.2-400 . B. The applicant shall provide information on forms required by the Commission. The Commission shall have authority, at any time, to require the applicant to disclose fully the identity of all stockholders, partners, officers, members, and employees, and the Commission may, in the exercise of the Commission's discretion, refuse to issue a license in the name of a legal entity if not satisfied that any officer, employee, stockholder, partner, or member thereof who may materially influence the applicant's conduct meets the standards of this chapter. C. A license issued to a legal entity authorizes all partners, officers, members, and designated employees to act as the viatical settlement provider under the license, and all those persons shall be named in the application and any application supplements. D. Upon the filing of an application and the payment of the nonrefundable application fee, the Commission shall make such investigation of each applicant as the Commission may determine to be appropriate and issue a license if it finds that the applicant: (i) has provided a detailed plan of operation; (ii) is competent and trustworthy; (iii) indicates its intention to act in good faith within the confines of the license; (iv) has a good business reputation; (v) if an individual, has had experience, training or education that qualifies him for licensure; (vi) if a resident partnership, limited liability company, or corporation, has recorded the existence of the partnership, limited liability company, or corporation pursuant to law; (vii) if a corporation, has specific authority to act as a viatical settlement provider in its charter; (viii) if a nonresident partnership, limited liability company, or corporation, has furnished proof of its authority to transact business in Virginia; and (ix) has provided an anti-fraud plan that meets the requirements of subdivision E 3 b of § 38.2-6011 . E. If the applicant for a viatical settlement provider license is a nonresident, such applicant, as a condition precedent to receiving or holding a license, shall designate a resident of this Commonwealth as the person upon whom any process, notices, or order required or permitted by law to be served upon such nonresident viatical settlement provider may be served; and such licensee shall promptly notify the clerk of the Commission in writing of every change in its designated agent for service of process, and such change shall not become effective until acknowledged by the Commission. Whenever a nonresident viatical settlement provider transacting business in this Commonwealth fails to appoint or maintain a registered agent in this Commonwealth, or whenever its registered agent cannot with reasonable diligence be found at the registered office, the clerk of the Commission shall be an agent of the nonresident upon whom service may be made in accordance with § 12.1-19.1 . F. A licensed insurer shall be prohibited from transacting the business of a viatical settlement provider. G. The Commission may suspend, revoke, refuse to issue, or refuse to renew the license of a viatical settlement provider if the Commission finds that the applicant or licensee has (i) made any material misrepresentation in the application; (ii) been guilty of fraudulent or dishonest practices; (iii) been subject to a final administrative action or has otherwise been shown to be untrustworthy or incompetent to act as a viatical settlement provider; (iv) demonstrated a pattern of unreasonable payments to viators; (v) been convicted of a felony or any misdemeanor involving fraud or moral turpitude; (vi) entered into any viatical settlement contract that has not been approved pursuant to this chapter; (vii) failed to honor contractual obligations set out in a viatical settlement contract; (viii) demonstrated or represented that it no longer meets the requirements for initial licensure; (ix) has assigned, transferred, or pledged a viaticated policy to a person other than a viatical settlement provider licensed in this Commonwealth, viatical settlement purchaser, an accredited investor, or qualified institutional buyer as defined respectively in Regulation D, Rule 501 or Rule 144A of the Federal Securities Act of 1933, as amended, financing entity, special purpose entity, or related provider trust; (x) violated any provisions of this chapter or other applicable provisions of this title or has in its employ or organization any officer, partner, member, or key management personnel who has violated any provision of this chapter or other applicable provisions of this title; or (xi) has renewed or requested renewal of its license before implementing the anti-fraud initiatives required by subsection E of § 38.2-6011 . H. No applicant to whom a license is refused after a hearing, nor any licensee whose license is revoked, shall apply again for a license under this chapter until after the expiration of a period of five years from the date of the Commission's order, or such other period of time as the Commission prescribes in its order. I. A viatical settlement provider shall be bonded as required by the Commission. Rules issued pursuant to § 38.2-6014 may identify other mechanisms for financial accountability. 1997, c. 814 , § 38.2-5701; 1998, c. 11 ; 2003, c. 717 ; 2023, c. 577 .

Va. Code Ann. § 38.2-6003 Approval of viatical settlement contracts and disclosure statements

A. A person shall not use a viatical settlement contract or provide to a viator a disclosure statement form in this Commonwealth unless filed with and approved by the Commission in accordance with procedures set forth in § 38.2-316 . In the absence of more specific regulation or rules promulgated by the Commission for the business of viatical settlements, standards and requirements of general application set forth in § 38.2-316 and rules promulgated thereunder shall be deemed applicable to viatical settlement contracts and disclosure statement forms, required by this chapter. B. At the Commission's discretion, the Commission may require the submission of advertising material used or intended for use in this Commonwealth. 1997, c. 814 , § 38.2-5704; 2003, c. 717 .

Va. Code Ann. § 38.2-6004 Reporting requirements

A. A viatical settlement provider shall file with the Commission on or before March 1 of each year the certification required by subsection E of § 38.2-6011 and an annual report containing such information as the Commission may prescribe by rule or regulation; however, such information shall be limited to only those transactions where the viator is a resident of this Commonwealth. B. A viatical settlement provider shall report in writing to the Commission the following: 1. New or revised information about its officers, stockholders owning 10 percent or greater interest in the licensee or an affiliate of the licensee, partners, directors, members, or designated employees within 30 calendar days of the change; 2. Any change in business or residence address or name within 30 calendar days of the change. C. A licensed viatical settlement provider convicted of a felony shall report within 30 calendar days to the Commission the facts and circumstances regarding the criminal conviction. 1997, c. 814 , § 38.2-5703; 1999, c. 59 ; 2001, c. 706 ; 2003, c. 717 ; 2023, c. 577 .

Va. Code Ann. § 38.2-6005 Privacy

Except as otherwise allowed or required by law, a viatical settlement provider, viatical settlement broker, insurance company, insurance producer, information bureau, rating agency or company, or any other person with actual knowledge of an insured's identity, shall not disclose that identity as an insured, or the insured's financial or medical information to any other person unless the disclosure: 1. Is necessary to effect a viatical settlement between the viator and a viatical settlement provider and the viator and insured have provided prior written consent to the disclosure; 2. Is provided in response to an investigation or examination by the Commission or another governmental agency or officer or pursuant to the requirements of subsection C of § 38.2-6011 ; 3. Is a term of or condition to the transfer of a policy by one viatical settlement provider to another viatical settlement provider; 4. Is necessary to permit a financing entity, related provider trust, or special purpose entity to finance the purchase of policies by a viatical settlement provider and the viator and insured have provided prior written consent to the disclosure; 5. Is necessary to allow the viatical settlement provider or viatical settlement broker or their authorized representatives to make contacts for the purpose of determining health status; or 6. Is required to purchase stop loss coverage. 2003, c. 717 .

Va. Code Ann. § 38.2-6006 Examinations; record retention; investigations

A. Viatical settlement providers, viatical settlement brokers, and persons seeking a license under this title to transact the business of viatical settlements in this Commonwealth shall be subject to examination by the Commission pursuant to Article 4 (§ 38.2-1317 et seq.) of Chapter 13 of this title. For purposes of completing such examination, the Commission may examine or investigate any person, or the business of any person, insofar as the examination or investigation is, in the sole discretion of the Commission, necessary or material to the examination of a licensee. B. A person required to be licensed by this chapter shall for five years retain copies of (i) all proposed, offered or executed contracts, purchase agreements, underwriting documents, policy forms, and applications from the date of the proposal, offer or execution of the contract or purchase agreement, whichever is later; (ii) all checks, drafts or other evidence and documentation related to the payment, transfer, deposit, or release of funds from the date of the transaction; and (iii) all other records and documents related to the requirements of this chapter or Article 6.1 (§ 38.2-1865.1 et seq.) of Chapter 18 of this title. This section does not relieve a person of the obligation to produce these documents to the Commission after the retention period has expired if the person has retained the documents. Records required to be retained by this section must be legible and complete and may be retained in paper, photograph, microprocess, magnetic, mechanical, or electronic media, or by any process that accurately reproduces or forms a durable medium for the reproduction of a record. C. The Commission may investigate suspected fraudulent viatical settlement acts and persons engaged or alleged to be engaged in the business of viatical settlements. 2003, c. 717 .

Va. Code Ann. § 38.2-6007 Disclosure

A. Before asking a viator or insured to sign any document, a licensee under this chapter shall provide the respective viator or insured, or both, with a copy of the disclosure document described in this subsection. The viatical settlement provider or viatical settlement broker shall provide the viator with an additional copy of the disclosures, with the application, no later than the time the application for the viatical settlement contract is signed by all parties. The disclosures shall be provided in a separate document that is signed by the viator and the viatical settlement provider or viatical settlement broker, and shall provide the following information: 1. There are possible alternatives to viatical settlement contracts including any accelerated death benefits or policy loans offered under the viator's life insurance policy. 2. Some or all of the proceeds of the viatical settlement may be taxable under federal income tax and state franchise and income taxes, and assistance should be sought from a professional tax advisor. 3. Proceeds of the viatical settlement could be subject to the claims of creditors. 4. Receipt of the proceeds of a viatical settlement may adversely affect the viator's eligibility for Medicaid or other government benefits or entitlements, and advice should be obtained from the appropriate government agencies. 5. The viator has the right to rescind a viatical settlement contract for 15 calendar days after the receipt of the viatical settlement proceeds by the viator, as provided in subsection C of § 38.2-6008 . If the insured dies during the rescission period, the settlement contract shall be deemed to have been rescinded, subject to repayment of all viatical settlement proceeds and any premiums, loans, and loan interest to the viatical settlement provider or viatical settlement purchaser. 6. Funds will be sent to the viator within three business days after the viatical settlement provider has received the insurer's or group administrator's acknowledgment that ownership of the policy or interest in the certificate has been transferred and the beneficiary has been designated. 7. Entering into a viatical settlement contract may cause other rights or benefits, including conversion rights and waiver of premium benefits that may exist under the policy or certificate, to be forfeited by the viator. Assistance should be sought from a financial adviser. 8. Disclosure to a viator shall include distribution of a brochure describing the process of viatical settlements. The NAIC's form for the brochure shall be used unless one is developed by the Commission. 9. The disclosure document shall contain the following language: "All medical, financial, or personal information solicited or obtained by a viatical settlement provider or viatical settlement broker about an insured, including the insured's identity or the identity of family members, a spouse, or a significant other may be disclosed as necessary to effect the viatical settlement between the viator and the viatical settlement provider. If you are asked to provide this information, you will be asked to consent to the disclosure. The information may be provided to someone who buys the policy or provides funds for the purchase. You may be asked to renew your permission to share information every two years." 10. The insured may be contacted by either the viatical settlement provider or broker or its authorized representative for the purpose of determining the insured's health status. This contact is limited to once every three months if the insured has a life expectancy of more than one year, and no more than once per month if the insured has a life expectancy of one year or less. B. A viatical settlement provider shall provide the viator with at least the following disclosures no later than the date the viatical settlement contract is signed by all parties. The disclosures shall be conspicuously displayed in the viatical settlement contract or in a separate document signed by the viator and the viatical settlement provider or viatical settlement broker, and provide the following information: 1. The affiliation, if any, between the viatical settlement provider and the issuer of the insurance policy to be viaticated; 2. The name, address, and telephone number of the viatical settlement provider; 3. The dollar amount of the current death benefit payable to the viatical settlement provider under the policy or certificate. If known, the viatical settlement provider shall also disclose the availability of any additional guaranteed insurance benefits, the dollar amount of any accidental death and dismemberment benefits under the policy or certificate, and the viatical settlement provider's interest in those benefits; 4. State the name, business address, and telephone number of the independent third party escrow agent, and the fact that the viator or owner may inspect or receive copies of the relevant escrow or trust agreements or documents; and 5. If an insurance policy to be viaticated has been issued as a joint policy or involves family riders or any coverage of a life other than the insured under the policy to be viaticated, the viator shall be informed of the possible loss of coverage on the other lives under the policy and shall be advised to consult with his insurance producer or the insurer issuing the policy for advice on the proposed viatical settlement. C. If the provider transfers ownership or changes the beneficiary of the insurance policy, the provider shall communicate the change in ownership or beneficiary to the insured within 20 days after the change. 1997, c. 814 , § 38.2-5705; 2003, c. 717 .

Va. Code Ann. § 38.2-6008 General rules

A. A viatical settlement provider entering into a viatical settlement contract shall: 1. First obtain: a. If the viator is the insured, a written statement from a licensed attending physician that the viator is of sound mind and under no constraint or undue influence to enter into a viatical settlement contract; and b. A document in which the insured consents to the release of his medical records to a viatical settlement provider, viatical settlement broker, and the insurance company that issued the life insurance policy covering the life of the insured. The consent for the release of medical records shall only be obtained for the insurance company if the life insurance policy covering the insured was issued within 48 months of the date of the viator's application for the viatical settlement contract. 2. Within 20 days after a viator executes documents necessary to transfer any rights under an insurance policy or within 20 days of entering any agreement, option, promise or any other form of understanding, expressed or implied, to viaticate the policy, the viatical settlement provider shall give written notice to the insurer that issued that insurance policy that the policy has or will become a viaticated policy. The notice shall be accompanied by the documents required by subdivision 3. 3. The viatical settlement provider shall deliver a copy of the medical release required under subdivision 1 b of this subsection, a copy of the viator's application for the viatical settlement contract, the notice required under subdivision 2, and a request for verification of coverage to the insurer that issued the life policy that is the subject of the viatical transaction. The verification form adopted by the NAIC shall be used unless standards for verification are developed by the Commission. 4. The insurer shall respond to a request for verification of coverage submitted on an approved form by a viatical settlement provider not later than 30 calendar days after the date the request is received. The insurer shall complete and issue the verification of coverage to the viatical settlement provider or, in its response, the insurer shall indicate whether, based on the medical evidence and documents provided, the insurer intends to pursue an investigation regarding possible fraud or the validity of the insurance contract. 5. Prior to or at the time of execution of the viatical settlement contract, the viatical settlement provider shall obtain a witnessed document in which the viator consents to the viatical settlement contract, represents that the viator has a full and complete understanding of the viatical settlement contract, that he has a full and complete understanding of the benefits of the life insurance policy, acknowledges that he is entering into the viatical settlement contract freely and voluntarily and, for persons who are chronically or terminally ill, acknowledges that the insured has a terminal or chronic illness and that the terminal or chronic illness or condition was diagnosed after the life insurance policy was issued. 6. If a viatical settlement broker performs any of these activities required of the viatical settlement provider, the provider is deemed to have fulfilled the requirements of this section. B. All medical information solicited or obtained by any licensee shall be subject to the applicable provisions of state law relating to privacy or confidentiality of medical information. C. All viatical settlement contracts entered into in this Commonwealth shall provide the viator with an unconditional right to rescind the contract for at least 15 calendar days from the receipt of the viatical settlement proceeds. If the insured dies during the rescission period, the viatical settlement contract shall be deemed to have been rescinded, subject to repayment to the viatical settlement provider or purchaser of all viatical settlement proceeds, and any premiums, loans, and loan interest that have been paid by the viatical settlement provider or purchaser. D. The viatical settlement provider shall instruct the viator to send the executed documents required to effect the change in ownership, assignment or change in beneficiary directly to the independent escrow agent. Within three business days after the date the escrow agent receives the documents, or from the date the viatical settlement provider receives the documents, if the viator erroneously provides the documents directly to the provider, the provider shall pay or transfer the proceeds of the viatical settlement into an escrow or trust account maintained in a state or federally-chartered financial institution whose deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Upon payment of the settlement proceeds into the escrow account, the escrow agent shall deliver the original change in ownership, assignment, or change in beneficiary forms to the viatical settlement provider or related provider trust. Upon the escrow agent's receipt of the acknowledgment of the properly completed transfer of ownership, assignment, or designation of beneficiary from the insurance company, the escrow agent shall pay the settlement proceeds to the viator. E. Failure to tender consideration to the viator for the viatical settlement contract within the time disclosed pursuant to subdivision A 6 of § 38.2-6007 renders the viatical settlement contract voidable by the viator for lack of consideration until the time consideration is tendered to and accepted by the viator. F. Contacts with the insured for the purpose of determining the health status of the insured by the viatical settlement provider or viatical settlement broker after the viatical settlement has occurred shall only be made by the viatical settlement provider or broker licensed in this Commonwealth or its authorized representatives and shall be limited to once every three months for insureds with a life expectancy of more than one year, and to no more than once per month for insureds with a life expectancy of one year or less. The provider or broker shall explain the procedure for these contacts at the time the viatical settlement contract is entered into. The limitations set forth in this subsection shall not apply to any contacts with an insured for reasons other than determining the insured's health status. Viatical settlement providers and viatical settlement brokers shall be responsible for the actions of their authorized representatives. 2003, c. 717 .

Va. Code Ann. § 38.2-6009 Prohibited practices

A. It is a violation of this chapter for any person to enter into a viatical settlement contract within a two-year period commencing with the date of issuance of the insurance policy or certificate unless the viator certifies to the viatical settlement provider that one or more of the following conditions have been met within the two-year period: 1. The policy was issued upon the viator's exercise of conversion rights arising out of a group or individual policy, provided the total of the time covered under the conversion policy plus the time covered under the prior policy is at least 24 months. The time covered under a group policy shall be calculated without regard to any change in insurance carriers, provided the coverage has been continuous and under the same group sponsorship; 2. The viator submits independent evidence to the viatical settlement provider that one or more of the following conditions have been met within the two-year period: a. The insured is terminally or chronically ill, or b. The viator or insured disposes of his ownership interests in a closely held corporation pursuant to terms of a buyout or other similar agreement in effect at the time the insurance policy was initially issued. B. Copies of the certifications and independent evidence required by this subsection and documents required by subsection A of § 38.2-6008 shall be submitted to the insurer when the viatical settlement provider submits a request to the insurer for verification of coverage. The copies shall be accompanied by a letter of attestation from the viatical settlement provider that the copies are true and correct copies of the documents received by the viatical settlement provider. 2003, c. 717 .

Va. Code Ann. § 38.2-6010 Advertising for viatical settlements

A. This section shall apply to any advertising of viatical settlement contracts, or related products or services intended for dissemination in this Commonwealth, including Internet advertising viewed by persons located in this Commonwealth. Where disclosure requirements are established pursuant to federal regulation, this section shall be interpreted so as to minimize or eliminate conflict with federal regulation wherever possible. B. Each licensee under this chapter shall establish and at all times maintain a system of control over the content, form and method of dissemination of all advertisements of its contracts, products, and services. All advertisements, regardless of by whom written, created, designed, or presented, shall be the responsibility of the licensee, as well as the individual who created or presented the advertisement. A system of control shall include regular routine notification, at least once a year, to agents and others authorized by the licensee who disseminates advertisements of the requirements and procedures for approval prior to the use of any advertisements not furnished by the licensee. C. Advertisements shall be truthful and not misleading in fact or by implication. The form and content of an advertisement of a viatical settlement contract shall be sufficiently complete and clear so as to avoid deception. It shall not have the capacity or tendency to mislead or deceive. Whether an advertisement has the capacity or tendency to mislead or deceive shall be determined by the Commission from the overall impression that the advertisement may be reasonably expected to create upon a person of average education or intelligence within the segment of the public to which it is directed. D. The information required to be disclosed under this section shall not be minimized, rendered obscure, or presented in an ambiguous fashion or intermingled with the text of the advertisement so as to be confusing or misleading. 1. An advertisement shall not omit material information or use words, phrases, statements, references, or illustrations if the omission or use has the capacity, tendency, or effect of misleading or deceiving viators, as to the nature or extent of any benefit, loss covered, premium payable, or state or federal tax consequence. The fact that the viatical settlement contract offered is made available for inspection prior to consummation of the sale, or an offer is made to refund the payment if the viator is not satisfied or that the viatical settlement contract includes a "free look" period that satisfies or exceeds legal requirements, does not remedy misleading statements. 2. An advertisement shall not use the name or title of a life insurance company or a life insurance policy unless the advertisement has been approved by the insurer. 3. An advertisement shall not state or imply that interest charged on an accelerated death benefit or a policy loan is unfair, inequitable, or in any manner an incorrect or improper practice. 4. The words "free," "no cost," "without cost," "no additional cost," "at no extra cost," or words of similar import shall not be used with respect to any benefit or service unless true. An advertisement may specify the charge for a benefit or a service or may state that a charge is included in the payment or use other appropriate language. 5. Testimonials, appraisals, or analysis used in advertisements must be genuine; represent the current opinion of the author; be applicable to the viatical settlement contract, product, or service advertised, if any; and be accurately reproduced with sufficient completeness to avoid misleading or deceiving prospective viators as to the nature or scope of the testimonials, appraisal, analysis, or endorsement. In using testimonials, appraisals, or analysis, the viatical settlement licensee makes as its own all the statements contained therein, and the statements are subject to all the provisions of this section. a. If the individual making a testimonial, appraisal, analysis, or an endorsement has a financial interest in the viatical settlement provider, viatical settlement broker, or related entity as a stockholder, director, officer, employee, or otherwise, or receives any benefit directly or indirectly other than required union scale wages, that fact shall be prominently disclosed in the advertisement. b. An advertisement shall not state or imply that a viatical settlement contract benefit or service has been approved or endorsed by a group of individuals, society, association, or other organization unless that is the fact and unless any relationship between an organization and the viatical settlement licensee is disclosed. If the entity making the endorsement or testimonial is owned, controlled, or managed by the viatical settlement licensee, or receives any payment or other consideration from the viatical settlement licensee for making an endorsement or testimonial, that fact shall be disclosed in the advertisement. c. When an endorsement refers to benefits received under a viatical settlement contract all pertinent information shall be retained for a period of five years after its use. E. An advertisement shall not contain statistical information unless it accurately reflects recent and relevant facts. The source of all statistics used in an advertisement shall be identified. F. An advertisement shall not disparage insurers, viatical settlement providers, viatical settlement brokers, viatical settlement investment agents, insurance producers, policies, services, or methods of marketing. G. The name of the viatical settlement licensee shall be clearly identified in all advertisements about the licensee or its viatical settlement contracts, products, or services, and if any specific viatical settlement contract is advertised, the viatical settlement contract shall be identified either by form number or some other appropriate description. If an application is part of the advertisement, the name of the viatical settlement provider shall be shown on the application. H. An advertisement shall not use a trade name, group designation, name of the parent company of a viatical settlement licensee, name of a particular division of the viatical settlement licensee, service mark, slogan, symbol, or other device or reference without disclosing the name of the viatical settlement licensee, if the advertisement would have the capacity or tendency to mislead or deceive as to the true identity of the viatical settlement licensee, or to create the impression that a company other than the viatical settlement licensee would have any responsibility for the financial obligation under a viatical settlement contract. I. An advertisement shall not use any combination of words, symbols, or physical materials that by their content, phraseology, shape, color, or other characteristics are so similar to a combination of words, symbols, or physical materials used by a government program or agency or otherwise appear to be of such a nature that they tend to mislead prospective viators into believing that the solicitation is in some manner connected with a government program or agency. J. An advertisement may state that a viatical settlement licensee is licensed in the state where the advertisement appears, provided it does not exaggerate that fact or suggest or imply that a competing viatical settlement licensee may not be so licensed. The advertisement may ask the audience to consult the licensee's website or contact the Bureau of Insurance to find out if this Commonwealth requires licensing and, if so, whether the viatical settlement provider or viatical settlement broker is licensed. K. An advertisement shall not create the impression that the viatical settlement provider, its financial condition or status, the payment of its claims or the merits, desirability, or advisability of its viatical settlement contracts are recommended or endorsed by any government entity. L. The name of the actual licensee shall be stated in all of its advertisements. An advertisement shall not use a trade name, any group designation, name of any affiliate, or controlling entity of the licensee, service mark, slogan, symbol, or other device in a manner that would have the capacity or tendency to mislead or deceive as to the true identity of the actual licensee or create the false impression that an affiliate or controlling entity would have any responsibility for the financial obligation of the licensee. M. An advertisement shall not directly or indirectly create the impression that any division or agency of the state or of the U.S. government endorses, approves, or favors: 1. Any viatical settlement licensee or its business practices or methods of operation; 2. The merits, desirability, or advisability of any viatical settlement contract; 3. Any viatical settlement contract; or 4. Any life insurance policy or life insurance company. N. If the advertiser emphasizes the speed with which the viatication will occur, the advertising must disclose the average time frame from completed application to the date of offer and from acceptance of the offer to receipt of the funds by the viator. O. If the advertising emphasizes the dollar amounts available to viators, the advertising shall disclose the average purchase price as a percent of face value obtained by viators contracting with the licensee during the past six months. 2003, c. 717 .

Va. Code Ann. § 38.2-6011 Fraud prevention and control

A. A person shall not commit a fraudulent viatical settlement act. A person shall not knowingly or intentionally interfere with the enforcement of the provisions of this chapter or Article 6.1 (§ 38.2-1865.1 et seq.) of Chapter 18 of this title or investigations of suspected or actual violations of this chapter or Article 6.1 (§ 38.2-1865.1 et seq.) of Chapter 18 of this title. A person in the business of viatical settlements shall not knowingly or intentionally permit any person convicted of a felony involving dishonesty or breach of trust to participate in the business of viatical settlements. B. Viatical settlement contracts and applications for viatical settlements, regardless of the form of transmission, shall contain the following statement or a substantially similar statement: "Any person who knowingly presents false information in an application for insurance or viatical settlement contract may be guilty of a crime and subject to prosecution." The lack of the required statement does not constitute a defense in any prosecution for a fraudulent viatical settlement act. C. Any person engaged in the business of viatical settlements having knowledge or a reasonable belief that a fraudulent viatical settlement act is being, will be, or has been committed shall provide to the Commission the information required by, and in a manner prescribed by, the Commission. Any other person having knowledge or a reasonable belief that a fraudulent viatical settlement act is being, will be, or has been committed may provide to the Commission the information required by, and in a manner prescribed by, the Commission. D. This chapter shall not: 1. Preempt the authority or relieve the duty of other law enforcement or regulatory agencies to investigate, examine, and prosecute suspected violations of law; 2. Prevent or prohibit a person from disclosing voluntarily information concerning viatical settlement fraud to a law enforcement or regulatory agency other than the insurance department; or 3. Limit the powers granted elsewhere by the laws of this Commonwealth to the Commission or an insurance fraud unit to investigate and examine possible violations of law and to take appropriate action against wrongdoers. E. 1. A viatical settlement provider shall within 60 days of licensure and annually thereafter by March 1 of each year certify to the Commission implementation of anti-fraud initiatives reasonably calculated to detect, prosecute, and prevent fraudulent viatical settlement acts. 2. A viatical settlement broker shall within 60 days of licensure affirm to the Commission implementation of fraud initiatives reasonably calculated to detect, prosecute, and prevent fraudulent viatical settlement acts. Upon renewal of such license, a viatical settlement broker shall affirm to the Commission that such fraud initiatives remain in place. A viatical settlement broker shall make its anti-fraud plan available to the Commission upon request. 3. Anti-fraud initiatives shall include: a. Fraud investigators, who may be viatical settlement providers or viatical settlement broker employees or independent contractors; and b. An anti-fraud plan that includes all of the following: (1) A description of the procedures for detecting and investigating possible fraudulent viatical settlement acts and procedures for resolving material inconsistencies between medical records and insurance applications; (2) A description of the procedures for reporting possible fraudulent viatical settlement acts to the Commission; (3) A description of the plan for anti-fraud education and training of underwriters and other personnel; and (4) A description or chart outlining the organizational arrangement of the anti-fraud personnel who are responsible for the investigation and reporting of possible fraudulent viatical settlement acts and investigating unresolved material inconsistencies between medical records and insurance applications. F. Anti-fraud plans submitted to or obtained by the Commission and in the control or possession of the Commission shall be privileged and confidential, shall not be subject to inspection or review by the general public, shall not be subject to subpoena, and shall not be subject to discovery or admissible in evidence in any private civil or criminal action. However, the Commission is authorized to use the anti-fraud plans in the furtherance of any regulatory or legal action brought as a part of the Commission's duties. 2003, c. 717 ; 2023, c. 577 .

Va. Code Ann. § 38.2-6012 Civil remedies

A. Any person damaged by the acts of a person in violation of this chapter may bring a civil action against the person committing the violation in a court of competent jurisdiction. B. The Commission shall have no jurisdiction to adjudicate controversies between licensees, or between a licensee under this chapter and a viator or an insured. C. If there is more than one viator on a single policy and the viators are residents of different states, contractual disputes arising from the viatical settlement shall be governed by the law of the state in which the viator having the largest percentage ownership resides or, if the viators hold equal ownership, the state of residence of one viator agreed upon in writing by all viators, provided that the application of another state's laws shall not impair or limit the ability of the Commission to apply and enforce the provisions of this chapter or Article 6.1 (§ 38.2-1865.1 et seq.) of Chapter 18 of this title in its regulation of transactions with a resident of this Commonwealth. 2003, c. 717 .

Va. Code Ann. § 38.2-6013 Unfair trade practices

A violation of this chapter shall be considered an unfair trade practice under Chapter 5 (§ 38.2-500 et seq.) of this title and subject to the penalties contained in that chapter. 1997, c. 814 , § 38.2-5707; 2003, c. 717 .

Va. Code Ann. § 38.2-6014 Commission authority

Pursuant to the authority granted by § 38.2-223 , the Commission may promulgate such rules and regulations as it may deem necessary to implement this chapter, including, but not limited to: 1. Establishing standards for evaluating reasonableness of payments under viatical settlement contracts for insureds who are terminally or chronically ill. This authority includes, but is not limited to, regulation of discount rates used to determine the amount paid in exchange for assignment, transfer, sale, devise, or bequest of a benefit under a life insurance policy. Viatical settlement providers, where the insured is not terminally ill or chronically ill, shall pay an amount greater than the cash surrender value or accelerated death benefit then available; 2. Establish appropriate licensing requirements, fees, and standards for continued licensure for viatical settlement providers and viatical settlement brokers; 3. Requiring and setting the amount of any bond or other mechanism for financial accountability for viatical settlement providers and viatical settlement brokers; and 4. Adopting rules governing the relationship and responsibilities of both insurers and viatical settlement providers and viatical settlement brokers during the viatication of a life insurance policy or certificate. 1997, c. 814 , § 38.2-5706; 2003, c. 717 .

Va. Code Ann. § 38.2-6015 Immunity from liability

A. No cause of action shall arise nor shall any liability be imposed against the Commission, the Commissioner of Insurance, or any of the Commission's employees or agents, for any statements made or conduct performed in good faith while carrying out the provisions of this chapter or Article 6.1 (§ 38.2-1865.1 et seq.) of Chapter 18 of this title. B. No cause of action shall arise, nor shall any liability be imposed against any person for the act of communicating or delivering information or data to the Commission, if the act of communication or delivery was performed in good faith and without fraudulent intent or the intent to deceive. C. No civil liability shall be imposed on and no cause of action shall arise from a person's furnishing information concerning suspected, anticipated, or completed fraudulent viatical settlement acts or suspected or completed fraudulent insurance acts, if the information is provided to or received from: 1. The Commission, the Commissioner of Insurance, or any of the Commission's employees or agents; 2. Federal, state, or local law enforcement or regulatory officials or their employees, agents or representatives; 3. A person involved in the prevention and detection of fraudulent viatical settlement acts or that person's agents, employees, or representatives; 4. The NAIC, National Association of Securities Dealers, the North American Securities Administrators Association, or their employees, agents or representatives, or other regulatory body overseeing life insurance, viatical settlements, securities, or investment fraud; 5. The life insurer that issued the life insurance policy covering the life of the insured; or 6. Any licensee under this chapter, provided the information furnished shall not be utilized as grounds to excuse the direct actions of such licensee. D. Immunity provided by subsection C shall not apply to statements made with actual malice. In an action brought against a person for filing a report or furnishing other information concerning a fraudulent viatical settlement act or a fraudulent insurance act, the party bringing the action shall plead specifically any allegation that subsection C does not apply because the person filing the report or furnishing the information did so with actual malice. E. This section does not abrogate or modify common law or statutory privileges or immunities enjoyed by a person described in subsections A or C. F. The documents and evidence provided pursuant to this section or obtained by the Commission in an investigation of suspected or actual fraudulent viatical settlement acts shall be privileged and confidential and shall not be a public record and shall not be subject to discovery or subpoena in a private civil or criminal action. G. Subsection F does not prohibit release by the Commission of documents and evidence obtained in an investigation of suspected or actual fraudulent viatical settlement acts: 1. In administrative or judicial proceedings to enforce laws administered by the Commission; 2. To federal, state, or local law enforcement or regulatory agencies, to an organization established for the purpose of detecting and preventing fraudulent viatical settlement acts or to the NAIC; or 3. At the discretion of the Commission, to a person in the business of viatical settlements that is aggrieved by a fraudulent viatical settlement act. H. Release of documents and evidence under subsection G does not abrogate or modify the privilege granted in subsection F. 2003, c. 717 .

Va. Code Ann. § 38.2-6016 Applicability of securities laws

Nothing in this chapter shall preempt or otherwise limit the provisions of the Virginia Securities Act (§ 13.1-501 et seq.), or any regulations, notices, bulletins or other interpretations issued by or through the Commission acting pursuant to the Virginia Securities Act. Compliance with the provisions of this chapter shall not constitute compliance with any applicable provision of the Virginia Securities Act and any amendments thereto or any regulations, notices, bulletins, or other interpretations issued by or through the Commission acting pursuant to the Virginia Securities Act. 2003, c. 717 .

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title38.2/chapter60/Fetched: 10/16/2026