§1915 — Title 38 Veterans' Benefits | U.S. Code

Summary

The Secretary must add a total disability benefit to a National Service Life Insurance policy if the insured applies, proves good health to the Secretary, and pays any extra premium the Secretary requires, except for policies issued under section 620 of the National Service Life Insurance Act of 1940 or section 1922 of this title. If the insured becomes totally disabled for six straight months after the application and before age 65, and premiums are current, the insurer must pay monthly benefits starting on the first day of the seventh month and continuing while the disability continues. The payment is $10 for each $1,000 of insurance in force when benefits begin. The extra benefit can only be applied for before the insured’s 55th birthday, or before the insured’s 60th birthday and before January 1, 1966. You cannot add this benefit to a policy that already has older total disability coverage unless you surrender the old coverage, prove good health if required, and pay any extra premium the Secretary sets. Participating policies with added disability benefits can be put in a separate group for dividend sharing.

Title 38, §1915

Veterans' Benefits — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The Secretary shall, except as hereinafter provided, upon application by the insured and proof of good health satisfactory to the Secretary and payment of such extra premium as the Secretary shall prescribe, include in any National Service Life Insurance policy on the life of the insured (except a policy issued under section 620 of the National Service Life Insurance Act of 1940, or section 1922 of this title) provisions whereby an insured who is shown to have become totally disabled for a period of six consecutive months or more commencing after the date of such application and before attaining the age of sixty-five and while the payment of any premium is not in default, shall be paid monthly disability benefits from the first day of the seventh consecutive month of and during the continuance of such total disability of $10 for each $1,000 of such insurance in effect when such benefits become payable. The total disability provision authorized under this section shall not be issued unless application therefor is made either prior to the insured’s fifty-fifth birthday, or before the insured’s sixtieth birthday and prior to January 1, 1966. The total disability provision authorized under this section shall not be added to a policy containing the total disability coverage heretofore issued under section 602(v) of the National Service Life Insurance Act of 1940, or the provisions of this section as in effect before January 1, 1965, except upon surrender of such total disability coverage, proof of good health, if required, satisfactory to the Secretary, and payment of such extra premium as the Secretary shall determine is required in such cases. Participating policies containing additional provisions for the payment of disability benefits may be separately classified for the purpose of dividend distribution from otherwise similar policies not containing such benefits.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

section 620 of the National Service Life Insurance Act of 1940, referred to in text, is section 620 of act Oct. 8, 1940, ch. 757, title VI, pt. I, as added Apr. 25, 1951, ch. 39, pt. II, § 10, 65 Stat. 36, which enacted section 821 of former Title 38, Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans’ Relief, and which was repealed and the provisions thereof reenacted as section 722 [now 1922] of this title by Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1105. section 602(v) of the National Service Life Insurance Act of 1940, referred to in text, is section 602(v) of act Oct. 8, 1940, ch. 757, title VI, pt. I, 54 Stat. 1009, which enacted section 802(v) of former Title 38, Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans’ Relief, and which was repealed and the provisions thereof reenacted as this section and section 721 [now 1921] of this title by Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1105.

Amendments

1991—Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), renumbered section 715 of this title as this section. Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(c)(1), substituted “1922” for “722”. Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator” wherever appearing. 1964—Pub. L. 88–355 authorized issuance of total disability income provisions to provide coverage to age 65 instead of to age 60, provided that said provisions shall not be issued unless application therefor is made either prior to the insured’s 55th birthday, or before the insured’s 60th birthday and prior to Jan. 1, 1966, and inserted “or the provisions of this section as in effect before January 1, 1965” before “except upon surrender”, and “if required” after “proof of good health.”

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1964 Amendment Pub. L. 88–355 provided that the amendment made by Pub. L. 88–355 is effective Jan. 1, 1965.

§1915 Total disability income provision