Source: http://delcode.delaware.gov/title18/c044/index.shtml
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 07:18:49+00:00

Document:
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Delaware Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association Act."
The purpose of this chapter is to protect, subject to certain limitations, the persons specified in § 4403(a) of this title against failure in the performance of contractual obligations, under life and health insurance policies and annuity contracts specified in § 4403(b) of this title, because of the impairment or insolvency of the member insurer that issued the policies or contracts. To provide this protection, an association of insurers is created to pay benefits and to continue coverage as limited herein, and members of the Association are subject to assessment to provide funds to carry out the purpose of this chapter.
§ 4403 Coverage and limitations.
3. The persons are not eligible for coverage by an association in any other state due to the fact that the insurer was not licensed in the state at the time specified in the state's guaranty association law.
b. Persons who are owners of unallocated annuity contracts issued to or in connection with government lotteries if the owners are residents.
2. Neither the payee (or beneficiary) nor the contract owner is eligible for coverage by the association of the state in which the payee or contract owner resides.
b. A person covered under paragraph (a)(3) of this section if any coverage is provided by the association of another state to the person.
(6) This chapter is intended to provide coverage to a person who is a resident of this State and, in special circumstances, to a nonresident. In order to avoid duplicate coverage, if a person who would otherwise receive coverage under this chapter is provided coverage under the laws of any other state, the person shall not be provided coverage under this chapter. In determining the application of the provisions of this paragraph in situations where a person could be covered by the association of more than 1 state, whether as an owner, payee, beneficiary or assignee, this chapter shall be construed in conjunction with other state laws to result in coverage by only one association.
(b)(1) This chapter shall provide coverage to the persons specified in subsection (a) of this section for direct, nongroup life, health or annuity policies or contracts and supplemental contracts to any of these, for certificates under direct group policies and contracts, and for unallocated annuity contracts issued by member insurers except as limited by this chapter. Annuity contracts and certificates under group annuity contracts include but are not limited to guaranteed investment contracts, deposit administration contracts, unallocated funding agreements, structured settlement annuities, annuities issued to or in connection with government lotteries, and any immediate or deferred annuity contracts.
k. A contractual agreement that establishes the member insurer's obligations to provide a book value accounting guaranty for defined contribution benefit plan participants by reference to a portfolio of assets that is owned by the benefit plan or its trustee, which in each case is not an affiliate of the member insurer.
l. A portion of a policy or contract to the extent it provides for interest or other changes in value to be determined by the use of an index or other external reference stated in the policy or contract but which have not been credited to the policy or contract, or as to which the policy or contract owner's rights are subject to forfeiture, as of the date the member insurer becomes an impaired or insolvent insurer under this chapter, whichever is earlier. If a policy's or contract's interest or changes in value are credited less frequently than annually, then for purposes of determining the values that have been credited and are not subject to forfeiture under paragraph (b)(2)a. of this section, the interest or change in value determined by using the procedures defined in the policy or contract will be credited as if the contractual date of crediting interest or changing values was the date of impairment or insolvency, whichever is earlier, and will not be subject to forfeiture.
m. Any employer owned life insurance policy, as defined in § 2704(e) of this title.
n. A policy or contract providing any hospital, medical, prescription drug or other health-care benefits pursuant to Part C or Part D of Subchapter XVIII, Chapter 7 of Title 42 of the U.S.C. (commonly known as Medicare Part C and D) or any regulations issued pursuant thereto.
B. $300,000 for disability insurance and $300,000 for long-term care insurance. For purposes of this section, "disability insurance" shall mean the type of policy which pays a monthly or weekly amount if an individual is disabled and cannot work. "Long-term care insurance" shall have the meaning as defined in § 7103(5) of this title.
3. $250,000 in present value of annuity benefits including net cash surrender and net cash withdrawal values.
e. With respect to either (i) 1 contract owner provided coverage under paragraph (a)(3)b. of this section; or (ii) 1 plan sponsor whose plans own directly or in trust 1 or more unallocated annuity contracts not included in paragraph (c)(2)b. of this section, $1,000,000 in benefits, irrespective of the number of contracts with respect to the contract owner or plan sponsor. However, in the case where 1 or more unallocated annuity contracts are covered contracts under this chapter and are owned by a trust or other entity for the benefit of 2 or more plan sponsors, coverage shall be afforded by the Association if the largest interest in the trust or entity owning the contract or contracts is held by a plan sponsor whose principal place of business is in this State and in no event shall the Association be obligated to cover more than $1,000,000 in benefits with respect to all these unallocated contracts.
f. The limitations set forth in this subsection are limitations on the benefits for which the Association is obligated before taking into account either its subrogation and assignment rights or the extent to which those benefits could be provided out of the assets of the impaired or insolvent insurer attributable to covered policies. The costs of the Association's obligations under this chapter may be met by the use of assets attributable to covered policies or reimbursed to the Association pursuant to its subrogation and assignment rights.
(d) In performing its obligations to provide coverage under § 4408 of this title, the Association shall not be required to guarantee, assume, reinsure or perform, or cause to be guaranteed, assumed, reinsured or performed, the contractual obligations of the insolvent or impaired insurer under a covered policy or contract that do not materially affect the economic values or economic benefits of the covered policy or contract.
This chapter shall be liberally construed to effect the purpose under § 4402 of this title which shall constitute and aid and guide to interpretation.
(1) "Account" means either of the 2 accounts created under § 4406 of this title.
(2) "Association" means the Delaware Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association created under § 4406 of this title.
(3) "Authorized assessment" or "authorized," when used in the context of assessments, means a resolution by the board of directors has been passed whereby an assessment will be called immediately or in the future from member insurers for a specified amount. An assessment is authorized when the resolution is passed.
(4) "Benefit plan" means a specific employee, union or association of natural persons benefit plan.
(5) "Called assessment" or "called," when used in the context of assessments, means that a notice has been issued by the Association to member insurers requiring that an authorized assessment be paid within the time frame set forth within the notice. An authorized assessment becomes a called assessment when notice is mailed by the Association to member insurers.
(6) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Insurance of this State.
(7) "Contractual obligation" means an obligation under a policy or contract or certificate under a group policy or contract, or portion thereof, for which coverage is provided under § 4403 of this title.
(8) "Covered policy" means a policy or contract or portion of a policy or contract for which coverage is provided under § 4403 of this title.
(9) "Extracontractual claims" shall include, for example, claims relating to bad faith in the payment of claims, punitive or exemplary damages, or attorneys' fees and costs.
(10) "Impaired insurer" means a member insurer which, after the effective date of this chapter, is not an insolvent insurer, and is placed under an order of rehabilitation or conservation by a court of competent jurisdiction.
(11) "Insolvent insurer" means a member insurer which after the effective date of this chapter, is placed under an order of liquidation by a court of competent jurisdiction with a finding of insolvency.
h. An entity similar to any of the above.
(13) "Moody's Corporate Bond Yield Average" means the Monthly Average Corporates as published by Moody's Investors Service, Inc., or any successor thereto.
(14) "Owner" of a policy or contract and "policy owner" and "contract owner" mean the person who is identified as the legal owner under the terms of the policy or contract or who is otherwise vested with legal title to the policy or contract through a valid assignment completed in accordance with the terms of the policy or contract and properly recorded as the owner on the books of the insurer. The terms owner, contract owner and policy owner do not include persons with a mere beneficial interest in a policy or contract.
(15) "Person" means an individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association, governmental body or entity or voluntary organization.
c. In a case of a benefit plan established or maintained by 2 or more employers or jointly by 1 or more employers and 1 or more employee organizations, the association, committee, joint board of trustees, or other similar group of representatives of the parties who establish or maintain the benefit plan.
b. With respect to multiple nongroup policies of life insurance owned by 1 owner, whether the policy owner is an individual, firm, corporation or other person, and whether the persons insured are officers, managers, employees or other persons, premiums in excess of $1,000,000 with respect to these policies or contracts, regardless of the number of policies or contracts held by the owner.
6. In the case of a benefit plan sponsored by affiliated companies comprising a consolidated corporation, the state in which the holding company or controlling affiliate has its principal place of business as determined using the above factors.
However, in the case of a plan sponsor, if more than 50 percent of the participants in the benefit plan are employed in a single state, that state shall be deemed to be the principal place of business of the plan sponsor.
b. The principal place of business of a plan sponsor of a benefit plan described in paragraph (16)c. of this section shall be deemed to be the principal place of business of the association, committee, joint board of trustees or other similar group of representatives of the parties who establish or maintain the benefit plan that, in lieu of a specific or clear designation of a principal place of business, shall be deemed to be the principal place of business of the employer or employee organization that has the largest investment in the benefit plan in question.
(19) "Receivership court" means the court in the insolvent or impaired insurer's state having jurisdiction over the conservation, rehabilitation or liquidation of the insurer.
(20) "Resident" means a person to whom a contractual obligation is owed and who resides in this State on the date of entry of a court order that determines a member insurer to be an impaired insurer or a court order that determines a member insurer to be an insolvent insurer, whichever occurs first. A person may be a resident of only 1 state, which in the case of a person other than a natural person shall be its principal place of business. Citizens of the United States that are either (i) residents of foreign countries, or (ii) residents of United States possessions, territories or protectorates that do not have an association similar to the Association created by this chapter shall be deemed residents of the state of domicile of the insurer that issued the policies or contracts.
(21) "Structured settlement annuity" means an annuity purchased in order to fund periodic payments for a plaintiff or other claimant in payment for or with respect to personal injury suffered by the plaintiff or other claimant.
(22) "State" means a state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or a United States possession, territory or protectorate.
(23) "Supplemental contract" means a written agreement entered into for the distribution of proceeds under a life, health or annuity policy or contract.
(24) "Unallocated annuity contract" means an annuity contract or group annuity certificate which is not issued to and owned by an individual, except to the extent of any annuity benefits guaranteed to an individual by an insurer under the contract or certificate."
§ 4406 Delaware Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association — Created; accounts; supervision.
c. Unallocated annuity account, which shall exclude contracts owned by a governmental retirement benefit plan (or its trustee) established under § 401, § 403(b) or § 457 of the United States Internal Revenue Code [26 U.S.C. § 401, § 403(b) or § 457].
(2) The health insurance account.
(b) The Association shall come under the immediate supervision of the Commissioner and shall be subject to the applicable provisions of the insurance laws of this State.
§ 4407 Delaware Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association — Board of Directors.
(a) The Board of Directors of the Association shall consist of not less than 5 nor more than 9 member insurers serving terms as established in the plan of operation. The members of the Board shall be selected by member insurers subject to the approval of the Commissioner. Vacancies on the Board shall be filled for the remaining period of the term by a majority vote of the remaining Board members, subject to the approval of the Commissioner. To select the initial Board of Directors, and initially organize the Association, the Commissioner shall give notice to all member insurers of the time and place of the organizational meeting. In determining voting rights at the organizational meeting each member insurer shall be entitled to 1 vote in person or by proxy. If the Board of Directors is not selected within 60 days after notice of the organizational meeting, the Commissioner may appoint the initial members.
(b) In approving selections or in appointing members to the Board, the Commissioner shall consider, among other things, whether all member insurers are fairly represented.
(c) Members of the Board may be reimbursed from the assets of the Association for expenses incurred by them as members of the Board of Directors but members of the Board shall not otherwise be compensated by the Association for their services.
§ 4408 Powers and duties of the Association.
(2) Provide such moneys, pledges, loans, notes, guarantees or other means as are proper to effectuate paragraph (a)(1) of this section and assure payment of the contractual obligations of the impaired insurer pending action under paragraph (a)(1) of this section.
(3)a. In providing the substitute coverage required under paragraph (b)(2)c. of this section, the Association may offer either to reissue the terminated coverage or to issue an alternative policy.
b. Alternative or reissued policies shall be offered without requiring evidence of insurability, and shall not provide for any waiting period or exclusion that would not have applied under the terminated policy.
c. The Association may reinsure any alternative or reissued policy.
(4)a. Alternative policies adopted by the Association shall be subject to the approval of the domiciliary insurance commissioner and the receivership court. The Association may adopt alternative policies of various types for future issuance without regard to any particular impairment or insolvency.
b. Alternative policies shall contain at least the minimum statutory provisions required in this State and provide benefits that shall not be unreasonable in relation to the premium charged. The Association shall set the premium in accordance with a table of rates that it shall adopt. The premium shall reflect the amount of insurance to be provided and the age and class of risk of each insured, but shall not reflect any changes in the health of the insured after the original policy was last underwritten.
c. Any alternative policy issued by the Association shall provide coverage of a type similar to that of the policy issued by the impaired or insolvent insurer, as determined by the Association.
(5) If the Association elects to reissue terminated coverage at a premium rate different from that charged under the terminated policy, the premium shall be set by the Association in accordance with the amount of insurance provided and the age and class of risk, subject to approval of the domiciliary insurance commissioner and the receivership court.
(6) The Association's obligations with respect to coverage under any policy of the impaired or insolvent insurer or under any reissued or alternative policy shall cease on the date the coverage or policy is replaced by another similar policy by the policy owner, the insured or the Association.
(7) When proceeding under paragraph (b)(2) of this section with respect to a policy or contract carrying guaranteed minimum interest rates, the Association shall assure the payment or crediting of a rate of interest consistent with § 4403(b)(2)c. of this title.
(c) Nonpayment of premiums within 31 days after the date required under the terms of any guaranteed, assumed, alternative or reissued policy or contract or substitute coverage shall terminate the Association's obligations under the policy or coverage under this chapter with respect to the policy or coverage, except with respect to any claims incurred or any net cash surrender value which may be due in accordance with this chapter.
(d)(1) Premiums due for coverage after entry of an order of liquidation of an insolvent insurer shall belong to and be payable at the direction of the Association, and the Association shall be liable for unearned premiums due to policy or contract owners arising after the entry of the order.
(2) If the liquidator of an insolvent insurer requests, the Association shall provide a report to the liquidator regarding such premiums collected by the Association.
(e) The protection provided by this chapter shall not apply where any guaranty protection is provided to residents of this State by the laws of the domiciliary state or jurisdiction of the impaired or insolvent insurer other than this State.
(2) Subject to approval by a court in this State, impose temporary moratoriums or liens on payments of cash values and policy loans or any other right to withdraw funds held in conjunction with policies or contracts, in addition to any contractual provisions for deferral of cash or policy loan value. In addition, in the event of a temporary moratorium or moratorium charge imposed by the receivership court on payment of cash values or policy loans or on any other right to withdraw funds held in conjunction with policies or contracts out of the assets of the impaired or insolvent insurer, the Association may defer the payment of cash values, policy loans or other rights by the Association for the period of the moratorium or moratorium charge imposed by the receivership court, except for claims covered by the Association to be paid in accordance with a hardship procedure established by the liquidator or rehabilitator and approved by the receivership court.
(g) A deposit in this State held pursuant to law or required by the Commissioner for the benefit of creditors, including policy owners, not turned over to the domiciliary liquidator upon the entry of a final order of liquidation or order approving a rehabilitation plan of an insurer domiciled in this State or in a reciprocal state, shall be promptly paid to the Association. The Association shall be entitled to retain a portion of any amount so paid to it equal to the percentage determined by dividing the aggregate amount of policy owners claims related to that insolvency for which the Association has provided statutory benefits by the aggregate amount of all policy owners' claims in this State related to that insolvency and shall remit to the domiciliary receiver the amount so paid to the Association less the amount retained pursuant to this subsection. Any amount so paid to the Association and retained by it shall be treated as a distribution of estate assets pursuant to § 5911 of this title or similar provision of the state of domicile of the impaired or insolvent insurer.
(h) If the Association fails to act within a reasonable period of time with respect to an insolvent insurer, as provided in subsection (b) of this section, the Commissioner shall have the powers and duties of the Association under this chapter with respect to the insolvent insurer.
(i) The Association may render assistance and advice to the Commissioner, upon the Commissioner's request, concerning rehabilitation, payment of claims, continuance of coverage, or the performance of other contractual obligations of an impaired or insolvent insurer.
(j) The Association shall have standing to appear or intervene before a court or agency in this State with jurisdiction over an impaired or insolvent insurer concerning which the Association is or may become obligated under this chapter or with jurisdiction over any person or property against which the Association may have rights through subrogation or otherwise. Standing shall extend to all matters germane to the powers and duties of the Association, including, but not limited to, proposals for reinsuring, modifying or guaranteeing the policies or contracts of the impaired or insolvent insurer and the determination of the policies or contracts and contractual obligations. The Association shall also have the right to appear or intervene before a court or agency in another state with jurisdiction over an impaired or insolvent insurer for which the Association is or may become obligated or with jurisdiction over any person or property against whom the Association may have rights through subrogation or otherwise.
(k)(1) A person receiving benefits under this chapter shall be deemed to have assigned the rights under, and any causes of action against any person for losses arising under, resulting from or otherwise relating to, the covered policy or contract to the Association to the extent of the benefits received because of this chapter, whether the benefits are payments of or on account of contractual obligations, continuation of coverage or provision of substitute or alternative coverages. The Association may require an assignment to it of such rights and cause of action by any payee, policy or contract owner, beneficiary, insured or annuitant as a condition precedent to the receipt of any right or benefits conferred by this chapter upon the person.
(2) The subrogation rights of the Association under this subsection shall have the same priority against the assets of the impaired or insolvent insurer as that possessed by the person entitled to receive benefits under this chapter.
(3) In addition to paragraphs (k)(1) and (2) of this section, the Association shall have all common-law rights of subrogation and any other equitable or legal remedy that would have been available to the impaired or insolvent insurer or owner, beneficiary or payee of a policy or contract with respect to the policy or contracts (including without limitation, in the case of a structured settlement annuity, any rights of the owner, beneficiary or payee of the annuity, to the extent of benefits received pursuant this chapter, against a person originally or by succession responsible for the losses arising from the personal injury relating to the annuity or payment therefor, excepting any such person responsible solely by reason of serving as an assignee in respect of a qualified assignment under Internal Revenue Code § 130 [26 U.S.C. § 130]).
(4) If the preceding provisions of this subsection are invalid or ineffective with respect to any person or claim for any reason, the amount payable by the Association with respect to the related covered obligations shall be reduced by the amount realized by any other person with respect to the person or claim that is attributable to the policies (or portion thereof) covered by the Association.
(5) If the Association has provided benefits with respect to a covered obligation and a person recovers amounts as to which the Association has rights as described in the preceding paragraphs of this subsection, the person shall pay to the Association the portion of the recovery attributable to the policies (or portion thereof) covered by the Association.
(9) Take other necessary or appropriate action to discharge its duties and obligations under this chapter or to exercise its powers under this chapter.
(m) The Association may join an organization of 1 or more other state associations of similar purposes to further the purposes and administer the powers and duties of the Association.
(n)(1) At any time within 180 days of the date of the order of liquidation, the Association may elect to succeed to the rights and obligations of the ceding member insurer that relate to policies or annuities covered (in whole or in part) by the Association, in each case under any 1 or more reinsurance contract or contracts entered into by the insolvent insurer and its reinsurers and selected by the Association. Any such assumption shall be effective as of the date of the order of liquidation. The election shall be effected by the Association or the National Organization of Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Associations (NOLHGA) on its behalf sending written notice, return receipt requested, to the affected reinsurers.
b. Notices of any defaults under the reinsurance contracts or any known event or condition which, with the passage of time, could become a default under the reinsurance contracts.
a. The Association shall be responsible for all unpaid premiums due under the reinsurance contracts for periods both before and after the date of the order of liquidation, and shall be responsible for the performance of all other obligations to be performed after the date of the order of liquidation, in each case which relate to policies or annuities covered (in whole or in part) by the Association. The Association may charge policies or annuities covered in part by the Association, through reasonable allocation methods, the costs for reinsurance in excess of the obligations of the Association and shall provide notice and an accounting of these charges to the liquidator.
2. The excess of the amount received by the Association, over the amount equal to the benefits paid by the Association on account of the policy or annuity less the retention of the insurer applicable to the loss or event.
c. Within 30 days following the Association's election (the "election date"), the Association and each reinsurer under contracts assumed by the Association shall calculate the net balance due to or from the Association under each reinsurance contract as of the election date with respect to policies or annuities covered, in whole or in part, by the Association, which calculation shall give full credit to all items paid by either the insurer or its receiver or the reinsurer prior to the election date. The reinsurer shall pay the receiver any amounts due for losses or events prior to the date of the order of liquidation, subject to any set-off for premiums unpaid for periods prior to the date, and the Association or reinsurer shall pay any remaining balance due the other, in each case within 5 days of the completion of the aforementioned calculation. Any disputes over the amounts due to either the Association or the reinsurer shall be resolved by arbitration pursuant to the terms of the affected reinsurance contracts or, if the contract contains no arbitration clause, as otherwise provided by law. If the receiver has received any amounts due the Association pursuant to paragraph (n)(3)b. of this section, the receiver shall remit the same to the Association as promptly as practicable.
d.1. If the Association or the receiver, on the Associations' behalf, within 60 days of the election date, pays the unpaid premiums due for periods both before and after the election date that relate to policies or annuities covered (in whole or in part) by the Association, the reinsurer shall not be entitled to terminate the reinsurance contracts for failure to pay a premium insofar as the reinsurance contracts relate to policies or annuities covered, in whole or in part, by the Association, and shall not be entitled to set off any unpaid amounts due under other contracts, or unpaid amounts due from parties other than the Association, against amounts due the Association.
B. Provided that once the Association has elected to assume a reinsurance contract, the parties' rights and obligations shall be governed by paragraph (n)(1) of this section.
3. If the Association does not elect to assume a reinsurance contract by the election date pursuant to paragraph (n)(1) of this section, the Association shall have no rights or obligations, in each case for periods both before and after the date of the order of liquidation, with respect to the reinsurance contract.
C. Notice shall be given in writing, return receipt requested, by the transferring party to the affected reinsurer not less than 30 days prior to the effective date of the transfer.
e. The provisions of this subsection (n) shall supersede the provisions of any law or of any affected reinsurance contract that provides for or requires any payment of reinsurance proceeds, on account of losses or events that occur in periods after the date of the order of liquidation, to the receiver of the insolvent insurer or any other person. The receiver shall remain entitled to any amounts payable by the reinsurer under the reinsurance contracts with respect to losses or events that occur in periods prior to the date of the order of liquidation, subject to applicable setoff provisions.
5. Apply to reinsurance agreements covering property or casualty risks.
(o) The Board of Directors of the Association shall have discretion and may exercise reasonable business judgment to determine the means by which the Association is to provide the benefits of this chapter in an economical and efficient manner.
(p) Where the Association has arranged or offered to provide the benefits of this chapter to a covered person under a plan or arrangement that fulfills the Association's obligations under this chapter, the person shall not be entitled to benefits from the Association in addition to or other than those provided under the plan or arrangement.
(q) Venue in a suit against the Association arising under the chapter shall be in New Castle County. The Association shall not be required to give an appeal bond in an appeal that relates to a cause of action arising under this chapter.
(3) The alternative policy or contract is substantially similar to the replaced policy or contract in all other materials terms.
(a) For the purpose of providing the funds necessary to carry out the powers and duties of the Association, the Board of Directors shall assess the member insurers, separately for each account, at such time and for such amounts as the Board finds necessary. Assessments shall be due not less than 30 days after prior written notice to the member insurers and shall accrue interest at 10% per annum on and after the due date.
(1) Class A assessments, shall be authorized and called for the purpose of meeting administrative costs and other expenses. Class A assessments may be authorized and called whether or not related to a particular impaired or insolvent insurer.
(2) Class B assessments shall be authorized and called annually to provide for the oversight activity of the Commissioner, thereby minimizing the need to make class C assessments.
(3) Class C assessments shall be authorized and called to the extent necessary to carry out the duties of the Association under this title with regards to an impaired or insolvent member insurer.
(c)(1) The amount of any class A assessment shall be determined by the Board and may be authorized and called on a pro rata or non-pro rata basis. If pro rata, the Board may provide that it be credited against future class C assessments. The total of all non-pro rata assessments shall not exceed $300 per member insurer in any 1 calendar year. The amount of class C assessment shall be allocated for assessment purposes among the accounts pursuant to an allocation formula which may be based on the premiums or reserves of the impaired or insolvent insurer or any other standard deemed by the Board in its sole discretion as being fair and reasonable under the circumstances.
(2) The amount of a class B assessment shall be determined by the Commissioner who shall so notify the Association not later than July 31 of the calendar year in which the assessment is to be made. A class B assessment may be made on a non-pro rata basis, but the amount shall not exceed 1/10 of 1% of the members' premium written during the calendar year preceding the assessment. The amount assessed in conjunction with class C assessments shall not result in members being assessed more than 2% of the premiums written in the applicable year. The proceeds of this assessment shall be paid by the Association into the Commissioner's Regulatory Revolving Fund.
(3) Class C assessments against member insurers for each account and subaccount shall be in the proportion that the premiums received on business in this State by each assessed member insurer on policies or contracts covered by each account for the 3 most recent calendar years for which information is available preceding the year in which the insurer became impaired or insolvent, as the case may be, bears to such premiums received in this State for such calendar years by all assessed member insurers.
(4) Assessments for funds to meet the requirements of the Association with respect to an impaired or insolvent insurer shall not be authorized or called until necessary to implement the purposes of this chapter. Classification of assessments under subsection (b) of this section and computation of assessments under this subsection shall be made with a reasonable degree of accuracy, recognizing that exact determination may not always be possible. The Association shall notify each member insurer of its anticipated pro rata share of an authorized assessment not yet called within 180 days after the assessment is authorized.
(d) The Association may abate or defer, in whole or in part, the assessment of the member insurer if, in the opinion of the Board, payment of the assessment would endanger the ability of the member insurer to fulfill its contractual obligations. In the event an assessment against a member insurer is abated or deferred in whole or in part, the amount by which such assessment is abated or deferred may be assessed against the other member insurers in a manner consistent with the basis for assessments set forth in this section. Once the conditions which caused a deferral have been removed or rectified, the member insurer shall pay all assessments that were deferred pursuant to a repayment plan approved by the Association.
(e)(1)a. Subject to the provisions of paragraph (e)(1)b. of this section, the total of all assessments authorized by the Association with respect to a member insurer for each subaccount of the life insurance and annuity account and for the health account shall not in 1 calendar year exceed 2% of that member insurer's average annual premiums received in this State on the policies and contracts covered by the subaccount or account during the 3 calendar years preceding the year in which the insurer became an impaired or insolvent insurer.
b. If 2 or more assessments are authorized in 1 calendar year with respect to insurers that become impaired or insolvent in different calendar years, the average annual premiums for purposes of the aggregate assessment percentage limitation referenced in paragraph (e)(1)a. of this section shall be equal and limited to the higher of the 3-year average annual premiums for the applicable subaccount or account as calculated pursuant to this section.
c. If the maximum assessment, together with the other assets of the Association in an account, does not provide in 1 year in either account an amount sufficient to carry out the responsibilities of the Association, the necessary additional funds shall be assessed as soon thereafter as permitted by this chapter.
(2) The Board may provide in the plan of operation a method of allocating funds among claims, whether relating to 1 or more impaired or insolvent insurers, when the maximum assessment will be insufficient to cover anticipated claims.
(3) If the maximum assessment for any subaccount of the life and annuity account in any 1 year does not provide an amount sufficient to carry out the responsibilities of the Association, then pursuant to paragraph (c)(3) of this section, the Board shall assess all subaccounts of the life and annuity account for the necessary additional amount, subject to the maximum stated in paragraph (e)(1) of this section.
(f) The Board may, by an equitable method as established in the plan of operation, refund to member insurers, in proportion to the contribution of each insurer to that account, the amount by which the assets of the account exceed the amount the Board finds is necessary to carry out during the coming year the obligations of the Association with regard to that account, including assets accruing from assignment, subrogation, net realized gains and income from investments. A reasonable amount may be retained in any account to provide funds for the continuing expenses of the Association and for future claims.
(g) It shall be proper for any member insurer, in determining its premium rates and policy owner dividends as to any kind of insurance within the scope of this chapter, to consider the amount reasonably necessary to meet its assessment obligations under this chapter.
(h) The Association shall issue to each insurer paying a class C assessment a certificate of contribution, in a form prescribed by the Commissioner, for the amount of the assessment so paid. All outstanding certificates shall be given equal dignity and priority without reference to amounts or dates of issue. A certificate of contribution may be shown by the insurer in its financial statement as an asset in such form and for such amount, if any, and period of time as the Commissioner may approve.
(i)(1) A member insurer that wishes to protest all or part of an assessment shall pay when due the full amount of the assessment as set forth in the notice provided by the Association. The payment shall be available to meet Association obligations during the pendency of the protest or any subsequent appeal. Payment shall be accompanied by a statement in writing that the payment is made under protest and setting forth a brief statement of the grounds for the protest.
(2) Within 60 days following the payment of an assessment under protest by a member insurer, the Association shall notify the member insurer in writing of its determination with respect to the protest unless the Association notifies the member insurer that additional time is required to resolve the issues raised by the protest.
(3) Within 30 days after a final decision has been made, the Association shall notify the protesting member insurer in writing of that final decision. Within 60 days of receipt of notice of the final decision, the protesting member insurer may appeal that final action to the Commissioner.
(4) In the alternative to rendering a final decision with respect to a protest based on a question regarding the assessment base, the Association may refer protests to the Commissioner for a final decision, with or without a recommendation from the Association.
(5) If the protest or appeal on the assessment is upheld, the amount paid in error or excess shall be returned to the member company. Interest on a refund due a protesting member shall be paid at the rate actually earned by the Association.
(j) The Association may request information of member insurers in order to aid in the exercise of its power under this section and member insurers shall promptly comply with a request.
§ 4410 Plan of operation.
(a)(1) The Association shall submit to the Commissioner a plan of operation and any amendments thereto necessary or suitable to assure the fair, reasonable and equitable administration of the Association. The plan of operation and any amendments thereto shall become effective upon approval in writing by the Commissioner.
(2) If the Association fails to submit a suitable plan of operation within 180 days following July 23, 1982, or if at any time thereafter the Association fails to submit suitable amendments to the plan, the Commissioner shall, after notice and hearing, adopt and promulgate such reasonable rules as are necessary or advisable to effectuate this chapter. Such rules shall continue in force until modified by the Commissioner or superseded by a plan submitted by the Association and approved by the Commissioner.
(b) All member insurers shall comply with the plan of operation.
(9) Require the Board of Directors to establish policy and procedures for addressing conflicts of interest.
(d) The plan of operation may provide that any or all powers and duties of the Association, except those under §§ 4408(l)(3) and 4409 of this title, are delegated to a corporation, association or other organization which performs or will perform functions similar to those of this Association, or its equivalent, in 2 or more states. Such a corporation, association or organization shall be reimbursed for any payments made on behalf of the Association and shall be paid for its performance of any function of the Association. A delegation under this subsection shall take effect only with the approval of both the Board of Directors and the Commissioner, and may be made only to a corporation, association or organization which extends protection not substantially less favorable and effective than that provided by this chapter.
§ 4411 Duties and powers of Commissioner.
c. In any liquidation or rehabilitation proceeding involving a domestic insurer, be appointed as the liquidator or rehabilitator. If a foreign or alien member insurer is subject to a liquidation proceeding in its domiciliary jurisdiction or state of entry, the Commissioner shall be appointed conservator.
(2) The Commissioner may suspend or revoke, after notice and hearing, the certificate of authority to transact insurance in this State of any member insurer which fails to pay an assessment when due or fails to comply with the plan of operation. As an alternative the Commissioner may levy a forfeiture of any insurer which fails to pay an assessment when due. Such forfeiture shall not exceed 5% of the unpaid assessment per month, but no forfeiture shall be less than $100 per month.
(3) A final action of the Board of Directors or the Association may be appealed to the Commissioner by a member insurer if the appeal is taken within 60 days of its receipt of notice of the final action being appealed. A final action or order of the Commissioner shall be subject to judicial review in a court of competent jurisdiction in accordance with the laws of this State that apply to the actions or orders of the Commissioner.
(4) The liquidator, rehabilitator or conservator of any impaired insurer may notify all interested persons of the effect of this chapter.
§ 4412 Detection and prevention of insolvencies.
3. Makes any formal order that such company restrict its premium writing, obtain additional contributions to surplus, withdraw from the State, reinsure all or any part of its business or increase capital, surplus or any other account for the security of policyholders or creditors.
d. To furnish to the Board of Directors the NAIC Early Warning Tests developed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and the Board may use the information contained therein in carrying out its duties and responsibilities under this section. Such report and the information contained therein shall be kept confidential by the Board of Directors until such time as made public by the Commissioner or other lawful authority.
(2) The Commissioner may seek the advice and recommendations of the Board of Directors concerning any matter affecting his or her duties and responsibilities regarding the financial condition of member companies and companies seeking admission to transact insurance business in this State.
(3) The Board of Directors may, upon majority vote, make reports and recommendations to the Commissioner upon any matter germane to the solvency, liquidation, rehabilitation or conservation of any member insurer or germane to the solvency of any company seeking to do an insurance business in this State. Such reports and recommendations shall not be considered public documents.
(4) It shall be the duty of the Board of Directors, upon majority vote, to notify the Commissioner of any information indicating any member insurer may be an impaired or insolvent insurer.
(5) The Board of Directors may, upon majority vote, request that the Commissioner order an examination of any member insurer which the Board in good faith believes may be an impaired or insolvent insurer. Within 30 days of the receipt of such request, the Commissioner shall begin such examination. The examination may be conducted as a National Association of Insurance Commissioners examination or may be conducted by such persons as the Commissioner designates. The cost of such examination shall be paid by the Association and the examination report shall be treated as are other examination reports. In no event shall such examination report be released to the Board of Directors prior to its release to the public, but this shall not preclude the Commissioner from complying with paragraph (1) of this section. The Commissioner shall notify the Board of Directors when the examination is completed. The request for an examination shall be kept on file by the Commissioner but it shall not be open to public inspection prior to the release of the examination report to the public.
(6) The Board of Directors may, upon majority vote, make recommendations to the Commissioner for the detection and prevention of insurer insolvencies.
(7) The Board of Directors shall, at the conclusion of any insurer insolvency in which the Association was obligated to pay covered claims, prepare a report to the Commissioner containing such information as it may have in its possession bearing on the history and causes of such insolvency. The Board shall cooperate with the boards of directors of guaranty associations in other states in preparing a report on the history and causes for insolvency of a particular insurer, and may adopt by reference any report prepared by such other associations.
§ 4413 Credits for assessments paid.
(a) A member insurer may offset against its premium tax liability to this State an assessment described in § 4409(h) of this title to the extent of 20 percent of the amount of such assessment for each of the 5 calendar years following the year in which such assessment was paid. In the event a member insurer should cease doing business, all uncredited assessments may be credited against its premium tax liability for the year it ceases doing business.
(b) Any sums acquired by refund, pursuant to § 4409(f) of this title, from the Association which have theretofore been written off by contributing insurers and offset against (premium, franchise or income) taxes as provided in subsection (a) above, and are not then needed for purposes of this chapter, shall be paid by the Association to the Commissioner and deposited by the Commissioner with the State Treasurer for credit to the General Fund of this State.
§ 4414 Liability for unpaid assessments; Association records; Association as creditor; liquidation proceeding.
(a) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to reduce the liability for unpaid assessments of the insureds on an impaired or insolvent insurer operating under a plan with assessment liability.
(b) Records shall be kept of all meetings of the Board of Directors to discuss the activities of the Association in carrying out its powers and duties under § 4408 of this title. The records of the Association with respect to an impaired or insolvent insurer shall not be disclosed prior to the liquidation, rehabilitation or conservation proceeding involving the impaired or insolvent insurer, except upon the termination of the impairment or insolvency of the insurer or upon the order of a court of competent jurisdiction. Nothing in this subsection shall limit the duty of the Association to render a report of its activities under § 4415 of this title.
(c) For the purpose of carrying out its obligations under this chapter, the Association shall be deemed to be a creditor of the impaired or insolvent insurer to the extent of assets attributable to covered policies reduced by any amounts to which the Association is entitled as subrogee pursuant to § 4408(k) of this title. Assets of the impaired or insolvent insurer attributable to covered policies shall be used to continue all covered policies and pay all contractual obligations of the impaired or insolvent insurer as required by this chapter. Assets attributable to covered policies, as used in this subsection, is that proportion of the assets which the reserves that should have been established for such policies bear to the reserves that should have been established for all policies of insurance written by the impaired or insolvent insurer.
(d) As a creditor of the impaired or insolvent insurer as established in subsection (c) of this section and consistent with § 5911 of this title, the Association and other similar associations shall be entitled to receive a disbursement of assets out of the marshaled assets, from time to time as the assets become available to reimburse it, as a credit against contractual obligations under this chapter. If the liquidator has not, within 120 days of a final determination of insolvency of an insurer by the receivership court, made an application to the court for the approval of a proposal to disburse assets out of marshaled assets to guaranty associations having obligations because of the insolvency, then the Association shall be entitled to make application to the receivership court for approval of its own proposal to disburse these assets.
(e)(1) Prior to the termination of any liquidation, rehabilitation or conservation proceeding, the court may take into consideration the contributions of the respective parties, including the Association, the shareholders and policy owners of the insolvent insurer, and any other party with a bond fide interest, in making an equitable distribution of the ownership rights of such insolvent insurer. In such a determination, consideration shall be given to the welfare of the policyholders of the continuing or successor insurer.
(2) No distribution to stockholders, if any, of an impaired or insolvent insurer shall be made until and unless the total amount of valid claims of the Association for funds expended in carrying out its powers and duties under § 4408 of this title with respect to such insurer have been fully recovered by the Association.
(f)(1) If an order for liquidation or rehabilitation of an insurer domiciled in this State has been entered, the receiver appointed under such order shall have a right to recover on behalf of the insurer, from any affiliate that controlled it, the amount of distributions, other than stock dividends paid by the insurer on its capital stock made at any time during the 5 years preceding the petition for liquidation or rehabilitation subject to the limitations of paragraphs (f)(2)-(4) of this section.
(2) No such dividend shall be recoverable if the insurer shows that, when paid, the distribution was lawful and reasonable and that the insurer did not know and could not reasonably have known that the distribution might adversely affect the ability of the insurer to fulfill its contractual obligations.
(3) Any person who was an affiliate that controlled the insurer at the time the distributions were paid shall be liable up to the amount of distributions that person received. Any person who was an affiliate that controlled the insurer at the time the distributions were declared shall be liable up to the amount of distributions that person would have received if they had been paid immediately. If 2 persons are liable with respect to the same distributions, they shall be jointly and severally liable.
(4) The maximum amount recoverable under this subsection shall be the amount needed in excess of all other available assets of the insolvent insurer to pay the contractual obligations of the insolvent insurer.
(5) If any person liable under paragraph (f)(3) of this section is insolvent, all its affiliates that controlled it at the time the dividend was paid shall be jointly and severally liable for any resulting deficiency in the amount recovered from the insolvent affiliate.
§ 4415 Annual reports by Board.
§ 4416 Tax status of Association.
There shall be no liability on the part of and no cause of action of any nature shall arise against any member insurer or its agents or employees, the Association or its agents or employees, members of the Board of Directors or the Commissioner or the Commissioner's representatives, for any action taken by them in the performance of their powers and duties under this chapter. Such immunity shall extend to the participation in any organization of 1 or more other state associations of similar purposes and to any such organization and its agents or employees.
§ 4418 Stay of proceedings; reopening default judgments.
All proceedings in which the insolvent insurer is a party in any court in this State shall be stayed 180 days from the date an order of liquidation, rehabilitation or conservation is final to permit proper legal action by the Association on any matters germane to its powers or duties. As to judgment under any decision, order, verdict or finding based on default the Association may apply to have such judgment set aside by the same court that made such judgment and shall be permitted to defend against such suit on the merits.
No person, including an insurer, agent or affiliate of an insurer shall make, publish, disseminate, circulate or place before the public, or cause, directly or indirectly, to be made, published, disseminated, circulated or placed before the public, in any newspaper, magazine or other publication, or in the form of a notice, circular, pamphlet, letter or poster, or over any radio station or television station, or in any other way, any advertisement, announcement or statement which uses the existence of the Insurance Guaranty Association of this State for the purpose of sales, solicitation or inducement to purchase any form of insurance covered by this chapter. Provided, however, that this section shall not apply to the Delaware Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association or any other entity which does not sell or solicit insurance.
§ 4420 Access to assets of insurer in liquidation; application for court approval of plan to disburse assets.

References: § 4403
 § 4403

§ 4403
 § 2704
 § 7103
 § 4408
 § 4402
 § 4406
 § 4406
 § 4403
 § 4403

§ 4406
 § 401
 § 403
 § 457
 § 401
 § 403
 § 457

§ 4407

§ 4408
 § 4403
 § 5911
 § 130
 § 130

§ 4410

§ 4411

§ 4412

§ 4413
 § 4409
 § 4409

§ 4414
 § 4408
 § 4415
 § 4408
 § 5911
 § 4408

§ 4415

§ 4416

§ 4418

§ 4420