Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 33. INSURANCE AND INSURANCE COMPANIES

CHAPTER 20. LIFE INSURANCE

Part 1. Policy Provisions

Notice Required For Cancellation

33-20-141. Notice required for cancellation. (1) Subject to subsection (2), an insurer may not cancel a life insurance policy or annuity for nonpayment of premiums until the insurer has mailed or delivered to the named insured and policyowner, where they are not the same, at the last-known post office address shown in the records of the company one written notice of cancellation in addition to any billing statement, stating the date the cancellation will become effective, which may not be less than 30 days after the date of mailing or delivery of the notice. Said 30 days shall run concurrently with the grace period required by 33-20-104.

(2) (a) An insurer that delivers or issues for delivery an individual life insurance policy in this state shall notify an applicant in writing at the time of application for the policy of the applicant's right to designate a third party to receive notice of cancellation of the policy based on nonpayment of premium. The applicant may make the designation at the time of application for the policy or at any time the policy is in force by submitting a written notice to the insurer containing the name and address of the third-party designee.

(b) The insurer's transmission to the third-party designee of a copy of a notice of cancellation based on nonpayment of premium must be in addition to the transmission of the original document to the policyowner. The copy of the notice of cancellation transmitted to the third party must be governed by the same law and policy provisions that govern the notice being transmitted to the policyowner.

(c) The designation of a third party may not constitute acceptance of any liability on the part of the third party or insurer for services provided to the policyowner.

History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 723, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 324, L. 2017.