South Carolina § 38-63-225 - Suicide and death exclusions.

§ 38-63-225. Suicide and death exclusions.

(A) If an individual life insurance policy contains a suicide provision, it may not limit payment of benefits for a period more than two years from the date of issue of the policy and it must provide for at least the return of premiums paid on the policy.

(B) An individual life insurance policy or rider to such a policy delivered or issued for delivery in this State may exclude or restrict liability in the event of death occurring while the insured is a resident in a specified foreign country or countries, but except as provided in subsection (A) may not contain any provision excluding or restricting liability in the event of death caused in a certain specified manner, except as a result of:

(1) death as a result of war, declared or undeclared, or any act or hazard of such a war;

(2) death as a result of operating, riding, or descending from an aircraft unless the insured is a passenger and the aircraft is operated commercially to transport passengers for hire or by a private business to transport personnel or guests;

(3) death as a result of hazardous occupations or hazardous sports specified in the policy or rider.

If death is caused in a manner excluded in the policy or rider, the policy must provide for at least the return of premiums paid on the policy less any indebtedness to the insurer on the policy.

(C) If an individual life insurance policy or rider contains any exclusions or restrictions of liability as allowed in subsection (B), the policy or rider must have a prominent stamp of notice of these exclusions or restrictions on the face of it and the insurer is required to have a separate form acknowledging the exclusions of liability signed by the owner of the policy.

HISTORY: 1988 Act No. 482, SECTION 3.