Veterans’ mortgage life insurance
The Secretary shall insure any individual under 70 years of age who has received assistance under this chapter against the death of the individual except for an individual who—
elects in writing to not receive insurance under this section;
fails to respond in a timely manner to a request from the Secretary for information on which the premium for such insurance can be based; or
receives such assistance under section 2102B of this title.
The amount of insurance provided an individual under this section may not exceed the lesser of $150,000, or after
The premiums charged an individual for insurance under this section shall be paid at such time and in such manner as the Secretary prescribes. The rates for such premiums shall be based on such mortality data as the Secretary considers appropriate to cover only the mortality cost of insuring standard lives. In the case of an individual receiving compensation or other cash benefits paid to the individual by the Secretary, the Secretary shall deduct from such compensation or other benefits the premiums charged the individual under this section.
The United States shall bear the costs of insurance under this section to the extent that such costs exceed premiums established by the Secretary. Premiums collected on insurance under this section shall be credited to the “Veterans Insurance and Indemnities” appropriation account, and all disbursements of insurance proceeds under this section shall be made from that account.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for such account such amounts as may be necessary to carry out this section.
Any amount of insurance in force under this section on the date of the death of an individual insured under this section shall be paid to the holder of the mortgage loan, for payment of which the insurance was granted, for credit on the loan indebtedness. Any liability of the United States under such insurance shall be satisfied when such payment is made. If the Secretary is the holder of the mortgage loan, the insurance proceeds shall be credited to the loan indebtedness and deposited in the Veterans Housing Benefit Program Fund established by section 3722 of this title.
The Secretary may prescribe such regulations relating to eligibility for insurance under this section, the maximum amount of insurance, the effective date of insurance, the maximum duration of insurance, and other pertinent matters not specifically provided for in this section as the Secretary determines are in the best interest of veterans or the United States.
The amount of the insurance in force at any time shall be the amount necessary to pay the mortgage indebtedness in full, except as otherwise limited by subsection (b) of this section or regulations prescribed by the Secretary under this section.
The Secretary shall issue to each individual insured under this section a certificate setting forth the benefits to which the individual is entitled under the insurance.
Insurance under this section shall terminate upon whichever of the following events first occurs:
Satisfaction of the individual’s indebtedness under the loan upon which the insurance is based.
Termination of the individual’s ownership of the property securing the loan.
Discontinuance of payment of premiums by the individual.
Termination of life insurance under this section shall not affect the guaranty or insurance of the loan by the Secretary.
Source
(Added Pub. L. 92–95, § 1,Notes
Amendments
Effective Date of 2010 Amendment
Effective Date of 1998 Amendment
Effective Date of 1992 Amendment
Effective Date of 1988 Amendment
Effective Date of 1976 Amendment
Savings Provision; Discontinuance of Contract Program; Definition
Savings Provision.—
Mortgage protection life insurance granted to any veteran under the former section 806 shall continue in force with the United States as insurer, subject to the terms of subsection (d). Nothing in that subsection shall impair any rights of any veteran or mortgage loan holder under the former section 806 that matured before the effective date specified in subsection (b) [see Effective Date of 1988 Amendment note above].
Discontinuance of Contract Program.—
Effective as of the effective date specified in subsection (b), the Administrator shall discontinue the policy of insurance purchased in accordance with the former section 806.
All premiums collected or received by the insurer on or after such effective date under a policy purchased under the former section 806 shall be promptly forwarded to the Administrator and shall be credited to the ‘Veterans Insurance and Indemnities’ appropriation account. Any positive balance of the contingency reserve maintained by the insurer under such policy remaining after all charges have been made shall be payable to the Administrator and shall be deposited by the Administrator in such account, except that such balance may, upon the election of the insurer, be paid by the insurer in equal monthly installments over a period of not more than two years beginning on the date, after such effective date, that the Administrator specifies.
Former Section 806 Defined.—
For the purpose of subsections (c) and (d), the term ‘former section 806’ means section 806 [this section] of title 38, United States Code, as in effect on the day before the effective date specified in subsection (b).”