Title 50, War and National DefenseRelease 119-110
§3974 Policies Entitled to Protection and Lapse of Policies
Title 50 › CHAPTER 50 — SERVICEMEMBERS CIVIL RELIEF › SUBCHAPTER IV — LIFE INSURANCE › § 3974
Summary
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs must decide if an insurance policy is protected and notify both parties. If so, the policy cannot be canceled for unpaid premiums or interest after the Secretary receives the application, and protection lasts during service and for two years.
Full Legal Text
Title 50, §3974
War and National Defense, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Determination
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall determine whether a policy is entitled to protection under this subchapter and shall notify the insured and the insurer of that determination.
(b)Lapse protection
A policy that the Secretary determines is entitled to protection under this subchapter shall not lapse or otherwise terminate or be forfeited for the nonpayment of a premium, or interest or indebtedness on a premium, after the date on which the application for protection is received by the Secretary.
(c)Time application
The protection provided by this subchapter applies during the insured’s period of military service and for a period of two years thereafter.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Codification Section was formerly classified to section 544 of the former Appendix to this title prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.
Prior Provisions
A prior section 404 of act Oct. 17, 1940, ch. 888, art. IV, 54 Stat. 1184; Oct. 6, 1942, ch. 581, § 13, 56 Stat. 775; Pub. L. 102–12, § 9(15), Mar. 18, 1991, 105 Stat. 40, related to restrictions on payment of dividends and insured’s right to change beneficiary, prior to the general amendment of this Act by Pub. L. 108–189. See section 3975 of this title.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section applicable to any case not final before Dec. 19, 2003, see section 3 of Pub. L. 108–189, set out as a note under section 3901 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
50 U.S.C. § 3974
Title 50, War and National Defense
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110