NY Ins L § 4509 (2021)
2021 New York Laws ISC - Insurance Article 45 - Fraternal Benefit Societies 4509 - Certificates; Applications; Effect of Changes in Corporate Documents.

§  4509.    Certificates; applications; effect of changes in corporate   documents. Every authorized society shall issue to each insured  member,   except a spouse or children under the age of twenty-one years insured as   members pursuant to subsection (b) of section four thousand five hundred   five  of this article, a certificate specifying the amount or amounts of   insurance benefits provided thereby.  The application for insurance, and   the  declaration  of  insurability,  if  used  in  lieu  of  a   medical   examination  as  herein provided, shall be signed by the applicant, and,   unless   society does not make the application a part of the contract or   agreement with the member or applicant, a copy thereof shall be attached   thereto, and all statements made  by  the  applicant  therein  shall  be   deemed  representations and not warranties. Every adult insurance member   entitled to life insurance benefits shall, as to  each  application  for   life  insurance,  have  furnished evidence of insurability acceptable to   the society. The certificate, together with any riders  or  endorsements   attached  thereto,  the  articles  of  incorporation,  constitution  and   by-laws  of  the  society,  and  the  application  and  declaration   of   insurability, if any, attached as aforesaid, shall constitute the entire   contract,  as  of  the  date  of  issuance,  between the society and the   insured member; and copies of the same, certified by  the  secretary  or   corresponding  officer of such society, shall be received in evidence to   show the  terms  and  conditions  of  such  contract.  In  the  case  of   certificates  that  provide  that the death benefit or other certificate   provisions may be changed by  written  application  or  by  the  written   notice  of  exercise of one or more options provided in the certificate,   or automatically by the terms of the certificate,  the  certificate  may   also contain a provision that when such written application or notice of   exercise  of  an  option  is  accepted by the society or a notice of any   change is issued by the society and,  in  each  case,  a  copy  of  such   application   or  notice  is  returned  by  mail  or  delivered  to  the   certificate holder at the certificate holder's last post office  address   known  to  the  society, such application or notice shall become part of   the entire contract between the parties.    Any  changes,  additions  or   amendments  to  said  articles of incorporation, constitution or by-laws   duly made or enacted subsequent to  the  issuance  of  any  certificate,   other  than  a  certificate  or  contract  providing  variable  benefits   pursuant  to  a  separate  account,  shall  bind  the  member  and   his   beneficiaries,  and shall thereafter govern and control the agreement in   all respects, except  that  no  change,  addition,  or  amendment  shall   destroy  or  diminish  benefits which the society contracted to give the   members as of the date of issuance.