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Kentucky · Snapshot 09/05/2026

KRS 304.12-035: Beneficiaries' Bill of Rights.

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    (1) As used in this section, "retained asset account" means any mechanism whereby the

    settlement of proceeds payable under a life insurance policy, including but not

    limited to the payment of cash surrender value, is accomplished by the insurer or an

    entity acting on behalf of the insurer depositing the proceeds into an account where

    those proceeds are retained by the insurer, pursuant to a supplementary contract not

    involving annuity benefits.

    (2) (a) An insurer may not use a retained asset account as the mode of settlement

    unless the insurer discloses the use of a retained asset account to the

    beneficiary or the beneficiary's legal representative prior to the transfer of life

    insurance proceeds to a retained asset account.

    (b) A beneficiary shall be informed, prior to the distribution of any life insurance

    proceeds, of his or her right to receive a lump -sum payment of life insurance

    proceeds in the form of a bank check or other form of immediate full payment

    of benefits.

    (3) (a) A complete listing and clear exp lanation of all life insurance proceeds

    payment options available to the beneficiary shall accompany, in written or

    electronic format, the use of a retained asset account. The complete listing and

    clear explanation of life insurance proceeds payment option s shall accompany

    the disclosure required by subsection (2)(b) of this section.

    (b) Pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection, the use of a retained asset account

    shall require the following to be included in the complete listing and clear

    explanation disclosure:

    1. The recommendation to consult a tax, investment, or other financial

    advisor regarding tax liability and investment options;

    2. The initial interest rate, the circumstances and time frames under which

    interest rates may change, and any dividends and other gains that may be

    paid or distributed to the account holder;

    3. The custodian of the funds or assets of the account;

    4. The coverage guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

    (FDIC), if any, and the amount of the coverage;

    5. The limitations, if any, on the number or amount of withdrawals or

    transfers of funds from the account, including any minimum or

    maximum withdrawal amounts for payment of life insurance proceeds;

    6. The delays, if any, that the account holder may encounter in completing

    authorized transactions and the anticipated duration of such delays;

    7. The services provided for a fee, including a list of the fees and the

    method of their calculation;

    8. The nature and frequency of statements of account;

    9. The payment of some or all of the life insurance proceeds may be by the

    delivery of checks, drafts, or other instruments to access the available

    funds;

    10. The entire life insurance proceeds are available to the account holder by

    the use of one (1) check, draft, or other instrument;

    11. The insurer or a related party may derive income, in addition to any fees

    charged on the account, from the total gains received on the investment

    of the balance of funds in the account;

    12. The telephone number, address, and other contact information, including

    a Web site address, to obtain additional information regarding the

    account; and

    13. The following statement, "FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE

    CONTACT YOUR STATE DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE."

    (c) The writings produced to sa tisfy the requirements of this subsection shall be

    written in plain language and printed in bold in no smaller than a twelve (12)

    point font.

    (4) (a) Insurers shall, on at least an annual basis, report the following information to

    the Department of Insurance:

    1. The number and dollar amount of retained asset accounts:

    a. In force at the beginning of the year;

    b. Issued or added during the year;

    c. Closed or withdrawn during the year;

    d. In force at the end of the year; and

    e. That are transferred annually pursuant to KRS Chapter 393;

    2. The dollar amount of investment earnings or interest credited to retained

    asset accounts during the year;

    3. The dollar amount of fees and other charges assessed during the year;

    4. A narrative description of how the retained asset accounts are structured.

    The description shall include:

    a. All of the interest rates paid to retained asset account holders

    during the reporting year, as well as the number of times changes

    were made to interest rates during the reporting year;

    b. A list of all applicable fees charged by the reporting entity directly

    or indirectly associated with the retained asset accounts; and

    c. Whether the retained asset accounts were the default method for

    satisfying life insurance claims;

    5. The number and doll ar amount of retained asset accounts in force at the

    end of the current year as compared to the prior year segregated by the

    following ages of the outstanding retained asset accounts:

    a. Zero (0) to twelve (12) months;

    b. Thirteen (13) to twenty-four (24) months;

    c. Twenty-five (25) to thirty-six (36) months;

    d. Thirty-seven (37) to forty-eight (48) months;

    e. Forty-nine (49) to sixty (60) months; and

    f. Greater than sixty (60) months;

    6. The identity of any entity or financial institution that administers

    retained asset accounts on behalf of the insurer; and

    7. Any other information relating to retained asset accounts as requested or

    required by the commissioner of the Department of Insurance.

    (b) All marketing materials, disclosure statements, and supplemental contract

    forms utilized in connection with retained asset accounts shall be filed with

    the Department of Insurance prior to their use. The commissioner shall

    disapprove any materials , statements, or forms submitted under this section

    that are inconsistent with subsection (3) of this section or are otherwise

    untrue, unfair, deceptive, false, or misleading.

    (5) An insurer shall immediately return any remaining balance held in a retained asset

    account to the beneficiary when the account becomes inactive. A retained asset

    account shall become inactive for purposes of this subsection if no funds are

    withdrawn from the account, or if no affirmative directive has been provided to the

    insurer by the beneficiary, during any continuous three (3) year period.

    (6) The commissioner may promulgate administrative regulations implementing this

    section.

    (7) This section may be cited as the Beneficiaries' Bill of Rights.

    Collected 2026-09-05T20:57:41Z. Source file · JSON

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