Ins 2.07(5)(5) Duties of insurers that use producers. Each insurer shall do all of the following: Ins 2.07(5)(a)(a) Maintain a system of supervision and control to insure compliance with the requirements of this section that shall at a minimum: inform its producers of the requirements of this section and incorporate the requirements of this section into all relevant producer training manuals prepared by the insurer, provide to each producer a written statement of the insurer’s position with respect to the acceptability of replacements providing guidance to its producer as to the appropriateness of these transactions, establish and maintain a system to review the appropriateness of each replacement transaction that the producer does not indicate is in accord with the written statement of the insurer’s position with respect to the acceptability of replacements, establish and maintain procedures to confirm that the requirements of this section have been met, and establish and maintain procedures to detect transactions that are replacements of existing policies or contracts by the existing insurer, but that have not been reported as such by the applicant or producer. Compliance with this paragraph may include systematic customer surveys, interviews, confirmation letters, or programs of internal monitoring. Ins 2.07(5)(b)(b) Have the capacity to monitor each producer’s life insurance policy and annuity contract replacements for that insurer, and shall produce, upon request, and make such records available to the commissioner. The capacity to monitor shall include the ability to produce records for each producer’s replacements, including financed purchases, as a percentage of the producer’s total annual sales for life insurance, number of lapses of policies by the producer as a percentage of the producer’s total annual sales for life insurance, annuity contract replacements as a percentage of the producer’s total annual annuity contract sales, number of transactions that are unreported replacements of existing policies or contracts by the existing insurer detected by the insurer’s monitoring system, and replacements, indexed by replacing producer and existing insurer. Ins 2.07(5)(c)(c) Require with or as a part of each application for life insurance or an annuity a signed statement by both the applicant and the producer as to whether the applicant has existing policies or contracts. Ins 2.07(5)(d)(d) Require with each application for life insurance or an annuity that indicates an existing policy or contract a completed notice regarding replacements as contained in Appendix I. Ins 2.07(5)(e)(e) When the applicant has existing policies or contracts, each insurer shall, upon request of the commissioner, produce copies of any sales material required by sub. (4) (e), the basic illustration and any supplemental illustrations related to the specific policy or contract that is purchased, and the producer’s and applicant’s signed statements with respect to financing and replacement for at least 5 years after the termination or expiration of the proposed policy or contract. Ins 2.07(5)(f)(f) Ascertain that the sales material and illustrations required by sub. (4) (e) meet the requirements of this section and are complete and accurate for the proposed policy or contract. Ins 2.07(5)(g)(g) If an application does not meet the requirements of this section, notify the producer and applicant and fulfill the outstanding requirements. Ins 2.07(5)(h)(h) Maintain records in paper, photograph, microprocess, magnetic, mechanical or electronic media or by any process that accurately reproduces the actual document. Ins 2.07(6)(6) Duties of replacing insurers that use producers. Ins 2.07(6)(a)(a) When a replacement is involved in a transaction, the replacing insurer shall do all of the following: Ins 2.07(6)(a)1.1. Verify that the required forms are received and are in compliance with this section. Ins 2.07(6)(a)2.2. Notify any other existing insurer that may be affected by the proposed replacement within 5 business days of receipt of a completed application indicating replacement or when the replacement is identified if not indicated on the application, and mail a copy of the available illustration or policy summary for the proposed policy or available disclosure document for the proposed contract within 5 business days of a request from an existing insurer. Ins 2.07(6)(a)3.3. Be able to produce copies of the replacement notification required in sub. (4) (b) indexed by producer, for at least 5 years or until conclusion of the next regular examination conducted by the insurance department of its state of domicile, whichever is later. Ins 2.07(6)(a)4.4. Provide to the policy or contract owner notice of the right to return the policy or contract within 30 days of the delivery of the contract and receive an unconditional full refund of all premiums or considerations paid on it, including any policy fees or charges or, in the case of a variable or market value adjustment policy or contract, a payment of the cash surrender value provided under the policy or contract plus the fees and other charges deducted from the gross premiums or considerations or imposed under the policy or contract. The notice may be included in Appendix I or III. Ins 2.07(6)(b)(b) In transactions where the replacing insurer and the existing insurer are the same or subsidiaries or affiliates under common ownership or control, allow credit for the period of time that has elapsed under the replaced policy’s or contract’s incontestability and suicide period up to the face amount of the existing policy or contract. With regard to financed purchases, the credit may be limited to the amount the face amount of the existing policy is reduced by the use of existing policy values to fund the new policy or contract. Ins 2.07(6)(c)(c) If an insurer prohibits the use of sales material other than that approved by the insurer, as an alternative to the requirements made of an insurer pursuant to sub. (4) (e) the insurer may do all of the following: Ins 2.07(6)(c)1.1. Require with each application a statement signed by the producer that represents that the producer used only insurer-approved sales material, and states that copies of all sales material were left with the applicant in accordance with sub. (4) (d). Ins 2.07(6)(c)2.2. Within 10 days of the issuance of the policy or contract notify the applicant by sending a letter or by verbal communication with the applicant by a person whose duties are separate from the marketing area of the insurer, that the producer has represented that copies of all sales material have been left with the applicant in accordance with sub. (4) (d), provide the applicant with a toll free number to contact insurer personnel involved in the compliance function if such is not the case, and stress the importance of retaining copies of the sales material for future reference, and be able to produce a copy of the letter or other verification in the policy file for at least 5 years after the termination or expiration of the policy or contract. Ins 2.07(7)(7) Duties of the existing insurer. Where a replacement is involved in the transaction, the existing insurer shall do all of the following: Ins 2.07(7)(a)(a) Retain and be able to produce all replacement notifications received, indexed by replacing insurer, for at least 5 years or until the conclusion of the next regular examination conducted by the insurance department of its state of domicile, whichever is later. Ins 2.07(7)(b)(b) Send a letter to the policy or contract owner of the right to receive information regarding the existing policy or contract values including, if available, an in force illustration or policy summary if an in force illustration cannot be produced within 5 business days of receipt of a notice that an existing policy or contract is being replaced. The information shall be provided within 5 business days of receipt of the request from the policy or contract owner. Ins 2.07(7)(c)(c) Upon receipt of a request to borrow, surrender or withdraw any policy values, send a notice, advising the policy owner that the release of policy values may affect the guaranteed elements, non-guaranteed elements, face amount or surrender value of the policy from which the values are released. The notice shall be sent separately from the check if the check is sent to anyone other than the policy owner. In the case of consecutive automatic premium loans, the insurer is only required to send the notice at the time of the first loan. Ins 2.07(8)(8) Duties of insurers with respect to direct response solicitations. Ins 2.07(8)(a)(a) In the case of an application that is initiated as a result of a direct response solicitation, the insurer shall require, with or as part of each completed application for a policy or contract, a statement asking whether the applicant, by applying for the proposed policy or contract, intends to replace, discontinue or change an existing policy or contract. If the applicant indicates a replacement or change is not intended or if the applicant fails to respond to the statement, the insurer shall send the applicant, with the policy or contract, a notice regarding replacement as described in Appendix II, or other substantially similar form approved by the commissioner. Ins 2.07(8)(b)(b) If the insurer has proposed the replacement or if the applicant indicates a replacement is intended and the insurer continues with the replacement, the insurer shall do all of the following: Ins 2.07(8)(b)1.1. Provide to applicants or prospective applicants with the policy or contract a notice, as described in Appendix III, or other substantially similar form approved by the commissioner. In these instances the insurer may delete the references to the producer, including the producer’s signature, and references not applicable to the product being sold or replaced, without having to obtain approval of the form from the commissioner. The insurer’s obligation to obtain the applicant’s signature shall be satisfied if it can demonstrate that it has made a diligent effort to secure a signed copy of the notice referred to in this subdivision. The requirement to make a diligent effort shall be deemed satisfied if the insurer includes in the mailing a self-addressed postage prepaid envelope with instructions for the return of the signed notice referred to in this subdivision. Ins 2.07(9)(a)(a) Any failure to comply with this section shall be considered a violation of s. 628.34, Stats. Examples of violations include any deceptive or misleading information set forth in sales material, failing to ask the applicant in completing the application the pertinent questions regarding the possibility of financing or replacement, the intentional incorrect recording of an answer, advising an applicant to respond negatively to any question regarding replacement in order to prevent notice to the existing insurer, or advising a policy or contract owner to write directly to the insurer in such a way as to attempt to obscure the identity of the replacing producer or insurer. Ins 2.07(9)(b)(b) Policy and contract owners have the right to replace existing life insurance policies or annuity contracts after indicating in or as a part of applications for new coverage that replacement is not their intention; however, patterns of such action by policy or contract owners of the same producer shall be deemed prima facie evidence of the producer’s knowledge that replacement was intended in connection with the identified transactions, and these patterns of action shall be deemed prima facie evidence of the producer’s intent to violate this section. Ins 2.07(9)(c)(c) When it is determined that the requirements of this section have not been met, the replacing insurer shall provide to the policy owner or contract owner an in force illustration if available or policy summary for the replacement policy or available disclosure document for the replacement contract and the appropriate notice regarding replacements in Appendix I or III. Ins 2.07(9)(d)(d) Any violation of this section shall be subject to s. 601.64, Stats. Failure to comply with the requirements of this section shall not alter the requirements of any insurer with respect to claims. Ins 2.07 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, March, 1972, No. 195, eff. 6-1-72; emerg. am. (1) and (2) eff. 6-22-76; am. (1) and (2); Register, September, 1976, No. 249, eff. 10-1-76; am. (2), Register, March, 1979, No. 279, eff. 4-1-79; r. and recr. Register, January, 1982, No. 313, eff. 3-1-82; r. (8), under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 16., Stats., Register, December, 1984, No. 348; CR 08-107: r. and recr. Register June 2009 No. 642, eff. 7-1-09. Ins 2.07 Appendix I
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
REPLACEMENT OF LIFE INSURANCE OR ANNUITIES
This document must be signed by the applicant and the producer, if there is one, and a copy left with the applicant.
You are contemplating the purchase of a life insurance policy or annuity contract. In some cases this purchase may involve discontinuing or changing an existing policy or contract. If so, a replacement is occurring. Financed purchases are also considered replacements.
A replacement occurs when a new policy or contract is purchased and, in connection with the sale, you discontinue making premium payments on the existing policy or contract, or an existing policy or contract is surrendered, forfeited, assigned to the replacing insurer, or otherwise terminated or used in a financed purchase.
A financed purchase occurs when the purchase of a new life insurance policy involves the use of funds obtained by the withdrawal or surrender of or by borrowing some or all of the policy values, including accumulated dividends, of an existing policy to pay all or part of any premium or payment due on the new policy. A financed purchase is a replacement.
You should carefully consider whether a replacement is in your best interests. You will pay acquisition costs and there may be surrender costs deducted from your policy or contract. You may be able to make changes to your existing policy or contract to meet your insurance needs at less cost. A financed purchase will reduce the value of your existing policy and may reduce the amount paid upon the death of the insured.
We want you to understand the effects of replacements before you make your purchase decision and ask that you answer the following questions and consider the questions on the back of this form.
1. Are you considering discontinuing making premium payments, surrendering, forfeiting, assigning to the insurer, or otherwise terminating your existing policy or contract? ___ YES ___ NO
2. Are you considering using funds from your existing policies or contracts to pay premiums due on the new policy or contract?
___ YES ___ NO
If you answered “yes” to either of the above questions, list each existing policy or contract you are contemplating replacing (include the name of the insurer, the insured or annuitant, and the policy or contract number if available) and whether each policy or contract will be replaced or used as a source of financing:
INSURER
NAME
CONTRACT OR POLICY #
INSURED OR ANNUITANT
REPLACED (R) OR FINANCING (F)
1.
2.
3.
Make sure you know the facts. Contact your existing insurer or its agent for information about the existing policy or contract. If you request one, an in force illustration, policy summary or available disclosure documents must be sent to you by the existing insurer. Ask for and retain all sales material used by the agent in the sales presentation. Be sure that you are making an informed decision.
The existing policy or contract is being replaced because ___________________________________________________.
I certify that the responses herein are, to the best of my knowledge, accurate:
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Applicant’s Signature and Printed Name and Date
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Producer’s Signature and Printed Name and Date
I do not want this notice read aloud to me. ____ (Applicants must initial only if they do not want the notice read aloud.)
A replacement may not be in your best interest, or your decision could be a good one. You should make a careful comparison of the costs and benefits of your existing policy or contract and the proposed policy or contract. One way to do this is to ask the insurer or agent that sold you your existing policy or contract to provide you with information concerning your existing policy or contract. This may include an illustration of how your existing policy or contract is working now and how it would perform in the future based on certain assumptions. Illustrations should not, however, be used as a sole basis to compare policies or contracts. You should discuss the following with your agent to determine whether replacement or financing your purchase makes sense:
PREMIUMS: Are they affordable?
Could they change?
You’re older—are premiums higher for the proposed new policy?
How long will you have to pay premiums on the new policy? On the existing policy?
POLICY VALUES: New policies usually take longer to build cash values and to pay dividends.
Acquisition costs for the existing policy may have been paid, you will incur costs for the new one.
What surrender charges do the policies have?
What expense and sales charges will you pay on the new policy?
Does the new policy provide more insurance coverage?
INSURABILITY: If your health has changed since you bought your existing policy, the new one could cost you more, or you could be turned down.
You may need a medical exam for a new policy.
Claims on most new policies for up to the first two years can be denied based on inaccurate statements.
Suicide limitations may begin anew on the new coverage.
IF YOU ARE KEEPING THE EXISTING POLICY AS WELL AS THE NEW POLICY:
How are premiums for both policies being paid?
How will the premiums on your existing policy be affected?
Will a loan be deducted from death benefits?
What values from the existing policy are being used to pay premiums?
IF YOU ARE SURRENDERING AN ANNUITY OR INTEREST SENSITIVE LIFE PRODUCT:
Will you pay surrender charges on your existing contract?
What are the interest rate guarantees for the new contract?
Have you compared the contract charges or other policy expenses?
OTHER ISSUES TO CONSIDER FOR ALL TRANSACTIONS:
What are the tax consequences of buying the new policy?
Is this a tax free exchange? (See your tax advisor.)
Is there a benefit from favorable “grandfathered” treatment of the existing policy under the federal tax code?
