Section 22321 - Credit loss-of-income insuranceIf credit loss-of-income insurance is provided pursuant to this division, it shall be subject to the following conditions:
(a) The insurance shall provide indemnity in accordance with the terms of the policy after any single period of continuous unemployment of 45 days or less as determined by the policy, after which benefits shall commence. The insurance may be offered with retroactive coverage to an earlier date based upon unemployment having continued for the period stated in the policy.(b) The statement required by Section 22337 shall include disclosure of the term of the coverage, the conditions of coverage, the benefits to be paid, and the exclusions from coverage.(c) The borrower shall sign a certificate of voluntary acceptance of any credit loss-of-income insurance purchased. The certificate shall state in boldface type that is larger than the type used in the loan contract that purchase of the insurance is not a necessary condition of receiving the loan, and that the insurance may be canceled by the borrower at any time within 15 days after it goes into effect. If the borrower cancels the insurance within 15 days, a full refund shall be made of the premium paid.(d) The minimum benefit shall be payment up to the agreed amount on not less than four benefit payments, as stated in the policy, which accrue during a covered period of unemployment, except that during the first 60 days after inception of the policy, the minimum benefit may be payment up to the agreed amount of one-half the number of benefit payments, as stated in the policy, which accrue during a covered period of unemployment. The maximum benefits shall be established in the contract of insurance.(e) If combination credit disability and credit loss-of-income coverage is offered, credit disability and credit loss-of-income coverage shall also be offered separately.(f) Benefits may not be denied because the insured cannot establish a valid claim for unemployment compensation benefits under Part 1 (commencing with Section 100) of Division 1 of the Unemployment Insurance Code solely because the former employer was not required to contribute to the State Unemployment Fund.(g) If insurance with retroactive coverage is provided, the coverage shall provide for a prorated payment based upon the fraction of the month during which the insured is unemployed, provided that the insured is continuously unemployed during the waiting period set forth in the policy. If insurance without retroactive coverage is provided, the coverage shall provide for a prorated payment based upon the fraction of the month during which the insured is unemployed, after first excluding the elimination period set forth in the policy. For the purpose of this subdivision, a month is any period of 30 consecutive days.(h) When unemployment continues for a number of months equal to or greater than the maximum number of benefit payments stated in the policy, the final payment shall be equal to the difference between a benefit payment and the initial prorated payment.(i) As used in this section, "benefit payment" means payment of an amount equal to a loan repayment installment or a maximum amount established in the contract of insurance, whichever is less.(j) The minimum benefit payment offered may not be less than the amount of a loan repayment installment unless the borrower or borrowers have two or more sources of income. If the maximum benefit payment offered is less than the amount of a loan repayment installment, the borrower shall also be offered coverage in which the maximum benefit payment is equal to the amount of a loan repayment installment.This section does not apply to any loan of a bona fide principal amount of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or more, or to a duly licensed finance lender in connection with any such loan or loans as determined in accordance with Section 22251.
Added by Stats. 1994, Ch. 1115, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1995. Operative July 1, 1995, by Sec. 5 of Ch. 1115.