Rhode Island § 27-80-3 - Unclaimed Life Insurance Benefits Act

§ 27-80-3. Definitions.

As used in this chapter:

(1) “Contract” means an annuity contract. The term “contract” shall not include an annuity used to fund an employment-based retirement plan or program where the insurer is not committed by terms of the annuity contract to pay death benefits to the beneficiaries of specific plan participants.

(2) “Death master file” means the United States Social Security Administration’s death master file or any other database or service that is at least as comprehensive as the United States Social Security Administration’s death master file for determining that a person has reportedly died.

(3) “Death master file match” means a search of the death master file that results in a match of the Social Security number or the name and date of birth of an insured, annuity owner, or retained asset account holder.

(4) “Policy” means any policy or certificate of life insurance that provides a death benefit. The term “policy” shall not include:

(i) Any policy or certificate of life insurance that provides a death benefit under an employee benefit plan:

(A) Subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (Pub. L. No. 93-406), 29 U.S.C. § 1002, as periodically amended; or

(B) Under any federal employee benefit program; or

(ii) Any policy or certificate of life insurance that is used to fund a pre-need funeral contract or pre-arrangement; or

(iii) Any policy or certificate of credit life or accidental death insurance.