Chapter 3919 | Mutual Protective Insurance Upon Persons

Section 3919.01 | Mutual protective associations.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

A company or association may be organized to transact the business of life or accident or life and accident insurance on the assessment plan, for the purpose of mutual protection and relief of its members, and for the payment of stipulated sums of money to the families, heirs, executors, administrators, or assigns of the deceased members of such company or association, as the member may direct, in the manner provided in the bylaws. The company also may receive money either by voluntary donation or contribution, or by collection through assessments on its members, and may accumulate, invest, distribute, and appropriate such money in any manner that it deems proper. All accumulations and accretions thereon shall be held and used as the property of the members and in the interest of the members, and shall not be loaned to, or used, appropriated, or invested for, the benefit of any officer or manager of such company or association. No company or association shall issue a certificate for a greater amount than it is able to pay from the proceeds of one assessment. Such company or association is subject to sections 3919.01 to 3919.41, inclusive, of the Revised Code.

Last updated February 23, 2022 at 3:18 PM

Section 3919.02 | Reserves for insurance contracts.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

Every association transacting business under sections 3919.02 to 3919.10, inclusive, of the Revised Code, shall hold and maintain, upon every contract of insurance issued on and after January 1, 1926, assets in excess of other liabilities, to provide for reserves of not less than the minimum reserves prescribed in such sections.

The basis for minimum reserves under such sections is the American experience table of mortality and interest at four per cent annually. Contracts may provide for not more than one year preliminary term insurance by incorporating therein a clause plainly showing that the first year's insurance under such contracts is term insurance, purchased by the whole or by a part of contribution to be received during the first contract year. Such contracts may be valued on the basis of the mortality table and interest rate prescribed in this paragraph by the preliminary term plan as modified by the following stipulation: if the premium charged for any contract exceeds that charged for life insurance under twenty payment life preliminary term contracts of the same association, the reserve thereon at the end of any year, including the first, shall not be less than the reserve on a twenty payment life preliminary term contract issued in the same year and at the same age, together with an amount equivalent to the accumulation of a level net premium sufficient to provide for a pure endowment at the end of the premium paying period equal to the difference between the value at the end of such period of such a twenty payment life preliminary term contract and the full level net premium reserve at such time of such a contract. The premium paying period is the period during which premiums are concurrently payable under such twenty payment life preliminary term contract and such other contract.

Section 3919.03 | Additional contributions.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

Under any contract providing, in addition to the regular contributions, for the payment currently of additional contributions to the extent needed to pay its share of claims and expenses and to maintain the tabular reserves required by sections 3919.02 to 3919.10, inclusive, of the Revised Code, or requiring any such additional amount to be charged as an indebtedness not exceeding the tabular reserves on the contract, and providing for terminating the contract whenever such charges equal the tabular reserves, no liability shall be charged in any valuation for any deficiency in future contributions so long as such payments are actually collected or such charges are actually made.

If any contracts are issued on or after January 1, 1926, which do not contain the provisions described in this section and section 3919.02 of the Revised Code, the association issuing them shall maintain as to such contracts the reserve required by sections 3907.18 and 3907.19 of the Revised Code.

Last updated February 23, 2022 at 3:18 PM

Section 3919.04 | Reserves are a distinct fund.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The assets representing the reserves on all contracts issued on an after January 1, 1926, and on such other contracts as the association organized under section 3919.01 of the Revised Code designates upon which a reserve at least equal to the minimum reserve prescribed in section 3919.02 of the Revised Code has been accumulated, shall be held separate for the sole use and benefit of such contracts and the insured and beneficiaries thereunder, and no other contracts, insured, beneficiaries, or claimants shall have or acquire any right or interest therein. Provision shall be made for requiring during each calendar year, from such contracts as are not included under this paragraph, contributions which, together with available assets not so held separate, are sufficient to provide for the shares of claims, expenses, and other current liabilities to be borne by such contracts as are not included under this section; provided that no such separation is required whenever reserves on all outstanding contracts are maintained in accordance with sections 3919.02 to 3919.10, inclusive, of the Revised Code.

Such association may accumulate, maintain, and distribute a surplus above such reserves and shall do so as the laws of the association provide in conformity with such sections. This section does not give to any individual contract, insured, or beneficiary any right or claim to any reserves or surplus, or to any part thereof, other than in the manner and to the extent provided in the contract or laws of the association; nor does it make any such reserves, except the reserves required by sections 3919.02 to 3919.10, inclusive, of the Revised Code, a liability in determining the solvency of the association.

Section 3919.05 | Mortality experience or table.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

Unless an association transacting business under sections 3919.02 to 3919.10, inclusive, of the Revised Code, provides otherwise, the actual mortality experienced on all outstanding contracts shall be determined and distributed between all such contracts in proportion to the cost of insurance on the basis provided in section 3919.02 of the Revised Code, or such other mortality table approximating the experience of the association as it may provide.

Last updated February 23, 2022 at 3:18 PM

Section 3919.06 | Provisions for disability benefits.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

Every association may include in contracts issued under sections 3919.02 to 3919.10, inclusive, of the Revised Code, provisions for total and permanent disability benefits, accidental death benefits, annuities, and the payment of the benefits in installments. Separate contracts may also be issued paying for total or partial disability from sickness or accident, dismemberment, and accidental death benefits; provided that the association shall maintain for all such benefits any additional reserves required upon similar benefits by the law relating to insurance companies, which additional reserves are subject to section 3919.04 of the Revised Code, concerning segregation of reserves.

Section 3919.07 | Provisions for cash surrender and loan values.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

An association organized under section 3919.01 of the Revised Code may provide in its contracts for stipulated premiums, death benefits, cash surrender values, and loan values, to an amount not exceeding the reserve, or it may provide for the equivalent paid-up or extended term insurance based upon a rate of mortality not lower than, and a rate of interest not higher than, that used in determining the reserve provided in sections 3919.02 to 3919.10, inclusive, of the Revised Code. Whenever the assets held separately for contracts issued on and after January 1, 1926, and for such other contracts designated as provided in such sections, exceed the reserves thereon by not less than five per cent of such reserves, any excess assets derived from mortality savings and investment gains and other sources may be apportioned, distributed, and used as provided by the association.

Section 3919.08 | Report on outstanding contracts.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

In addition to the annual report required by law, every association organized under section 3919.01 of the Revised Code shall report annually to the superintendent of insurance, on or before the first day of March, the valuation of outstanding contracts issued on and after January 1, 1926, or designated as provided in sections 3919.02 to 3919.10, inclusive, of the Revised Code, and in force on the thirty-first day of December of the preceding year. The report shall contain a statement of the rate of earnings of the mean invested assets, the interest earnings at such rate on the segregated portion of the assets, the interest required to maintain the reserves, the expected or tabular mortality, the actual mortality experienced, and the amount of reserve released by death and lapse, each stated separately. Such report shall be certified by an actuary whose practices an an actuary covers ten years or more. Such valuation shall be reported in the manner prescribed by the superintendent, and such other reports shall be made and such information furnished as the superintendent requires.

Section 3919.09 | Associations exempted.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

All fraternal benefit societies and associations, including those engaged in writing insurance covering a single hazard, and not operated or conducted for profit, and all associations, lodges, orders, or societies which do not issue insurance certificates, are exempt from sections 3919.02 to 3919.10, inclusive, of the Revised Code.

Last updated February 23, 2022 at 3:48 PM

Section 3919.10 | Foreign companies and associations.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

Any foreign company or association complying with sections 3919.02 to 3919.10, inclusive, of the Revised Code, may do business within this state, provided it can show a percentage of solvency of not less than one hundred five per cent, as provided in such sections, on all business in force on the thirty-first day of December of the year preceding the date of application to do business within this state.

Section 3919.11 | Bylaws.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

Associations organized under section 3919.01 of the Revised Code may provide in their bylaws that there shall be not less than five nor more than fifteen trustees, whose term of office shall be not more than three years. If the term is made more than one year, the bylaws may provide for electing at the first election a part of them for one year, a part for two years, and a part for three years, and thereafter elections shall be for a term of three years. Such associations by their regulations or bylaws may provide for:

(A) The time, place, and manner of calling and conducting their meetings;

(B) The number of members constituting a quorum;

(C) The time of the annual election for trustees and the mode and manner of giving notice thereof;

(D) The duties and compensation of officers;

(E) The manner of election or appointment and the tenure of office of all officers.

The tenure of the trustees shall not be for more than three years, one third of whom may be elected annually.

This section does not affect or impair the powers or franchises of corporations, companies, or associations organized prior to March 31, 1891. Such companies or associations may avail themselves of sections 3919.01, 3919.11, and 3919.12 of the Revised Code by amendment of their articles of incorporation.

Section 3919.12 | Amendment to constitution or bylaws.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

An association organized under section 3919.01 of the Revised Code may change or amend its constitution or bylaws by the assent thereto in writing of a majority of the members, or by a majority of those members present, in person or by proxy, at a meeting held for that purpose, thirty days' notice of such meeting, including the proposed changes in full, having been given by the acting president personally or by letter mailed to each member. Such change shall not take effect until it has been submitted to and approved by the superintendent of insurance. Any such association which, while issuing policies or certificates, advertises or gives out that it is maintaining a reserve greater than that required for yearly renewable term policies shall continue to maintain such reserve against said policies or certificates while they are in force, and no amendment to its constitution and bylaws decreasing said reserve on the policies or certificates shall be approved by the superintendent.

Section 3919.13 | Amendment of articles to change plan of insurance.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

Any company or association organized under section 3919.01 of the Revised Code for the purpose of transacting the business of life or accident or life and accident insurance on the assessment plan, may, with the consent in writing of a majority of its members, and upon the vote of the majority of its directors or trustees therefor, and with the written approval of the superintendent of insurance, amend its articles of incorporation and its constitution and bylaws in such a manner as to permit it to transact the business of life insurance on the legal reserve or level premium plan as a mutual company without capital stock. Such company or association, upon procuring from the superintendent a certificate of authority to transact business on the legal reserve or level premium plan, shall incur the obligations and enjoy the benefits thereof as provided by the laws of this state, as though it had thus been originally incorporated, and thereafter it shall cease to receive members and issue certificates on the assessment plan; such corporation, under its articles of incorporation as amended, is a continuation of the original corporation, and the officers at the time of such amendment shall serve through the terms for which they have been elected, but their successors shall be elected and serve for the terms and perform the duties provided for in the constitution and bylaws of the association after such amendment. The amendment of the articles of incorporation, as provided in this section, together with the amendment of the constitution and bylaws of such association, shall not affect existing suits, rights, or contracts.

Any such company or association may amend its articles of incorporation and its constitution and bylaws, as provided in this section, so as to enable it to transact the business of legal reserve or level premium life insurance on the mutual plan, without capital stock, and in such case the sections in Chapters 3907., 3909., 3911., and 3913. of the Revised Code relating to capital stock or legal reserve companies do not apply to such company or association, and thereupon such company or association shall deposit with the superintendent funds to the amount of one hundred thousand dollars held by it for the protection of its members and policyholders, of the character specified in sections 3907.14 and 3907.15 of the Revised Code. Said deposit shall be held by the superintendent in trust for the benefit and security of all of the members and policyholders of such company or association. All contracts and certificates issued prior to the amendment of the articles of incorporation and constitution and bylaws, as provided in this section, shall be valued as one year term insurance at the ages attained, according to the standard of valuation specified for life insurance policies by the laws of this state. At the time of the amendment of its articles of incorporation, such company shall compute, in a manner satisfactory to the superintendent, the value of each member's interest in the funds of such company, and shall at the time of such amendment notify each member of the amount standing to his credit, and shall give to each of its members the right to exchange his certificate for a policy upon the legal reserve basis. Within six months after the receipt of said notice, each member shall declare, in writing, whether he elects to do one of the following:

(A) To take a legal reserve policy, which shall not exceed in amount the maximum amount payable to beneficiary on such member's certificates, unless such limitation is expressly waived by such company or association, the premiums on which shall be reduced each year by the annuity purchasable by his credit in the funds of the company or association;

(B) To retain his original certificate.

If such member elects to retain his original certificate, or if he fails to make an election within the time specified, the assessments shall be levied and collected as provided in the constitution and bylaws of such company or association in force at the time of the amendment of the articles of incorporation.

Section 3919.14 | Separate annual statements.

• Effective: January 1, 2021
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 339 - 133rd General Assembly

A company or association organized under section 3919.01 of the Revised Code amending its articles of incorporation and its constitution and bylaws is subject to sections 3919.11 and 3919.12 of the Revised Code as to its organization and government, and it shall make separate annual statements to the superintendent of insurance of the business transacted by it under the assessment plan, as required by section 3919.16 of the Revised Code, and of the business transacted by it under the level premium or legal reserve plan, as required by section 3907.19 of the Revised Code.

Section 3919.15 | Prohibition against assessment plan companies.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

No company or association transacting the business of life insurance on the assessment plan, other than fraternal beneficiary associations, shall do business within this state, except those companies which, as of August 9, 1913, are authorized to do business within this state and which value their assessment policies or certificates of membership as yearly renewable term policies, according to the standard of valuation of life insurance policies prescribed by the laws of this state.

Section 3919.16 | Annual statement.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

Each corporation, company, or association organized under any law of this state for the purpose of doing business under sections 3919.01 to 3919.15, inclusive, of the Revised Code, or for the purpose of doing such business as is contemplated by them, on the first day of January of each year, or within sixty days thereafter, shall deposit, in the office of the superintendent of insurance, a statement under oath of all its transactions for the year next preceding the first day of January, and the condition of its business at the close of such year, according to printed blanks which shall be prepared and furnished by the superintendent, showing, in detail, the transactions of each company or association and exhibiting the following facts and items in the following form:

(A) Number of certificates or policies issued during the year;

(B) The amount of the indemnity effected thereby;

(C) Number of death losses during the year;

(D) Number of death losses paid during the year;

(E) Total amount received from death assessments during the year;

(F) Total amount paid to certificate holders or policyholders for losses during the year;

(G) Number of death claims not due, but for which assessments have been made;

(H) Number of losses for which assessments have not yet been issued;

(I) Number of death claims compromised or resisted during the year, and reasons for such compromise or resistance;

(J) Whether the association or company charges annual dues;

(K) The amount of the dues for one thousand dollars of indemnity;

(L) Whether the association or company uses the death assessments to meet its expenses, in whole or in part;

(M) Amount of death assessments used to meet expenses during the year;

(N) Whether the certificates or policies issued by the association or company guarantee a fixed amount to be paid, regardless of amount realized from assessments made to meet them;

(O) If so, how the amount is guaranteed;

(P) The security for such guarantee;

(Q) Whether the association or company issues endowment certificates or policies, or undertakes and promises to pay to members during life any sum of money or thing of value;

(R) If so, how these payments or promises are provided for;

(S) If by reserve, the amount of reserve;

(T) From what source the reserve fund is obtained;

(U) How it is invested;

(V) What guarantee or security the certificate holders have for this reserve;

(W) How many classes or divisions of endowment certificates or policies the association or company has;

(X) Number of years required for maturity of each of the first, second, third, and fourth classes or divisions;

(Y) Number of certificates or policies in force in each of the first, second, third, and fourth classes or divisions;

(Z) Date of organization of association or company;

(AA) Number of certificates or policies lapsed during the year;

(BB) Whole number of certificates or policies in force at the beginning and end of the year;

(CC) The aggregate amount of certificates in force at the beginning of the year;

(DD) The aggregate amount of certificates lapsed during the year;

(EE) The aggregate amount of certificates in force at the end of the year;

(FF) Maximum, minimum, and average age of members received during the year;

(GG) Whether the association or company has any agents who have not given bonds;

(HH) In what state the association is doing business.

Section 3919.17 | Failure to file a statement.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

Any corporation, company, or association which fails or refuses to file a statement or report as required by section 3919.16 of the Revised Code, or whose treasurer fails to file a bond as required by law, shall forfeit its right to do business, which forfeiture the superintendent of insurance shall enforce by proceedings in quo warranto. The attorney general shall institute such proceedings, upon the request of the superintendent, in writing.

Section 3919.18 | Compliance with requirements of mutual life companies.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

No corporation, company, or association organized under section 3919.01 of the Revised Code issuing endowments, certificates, or policies, or undertaking or promising to pay to members during life any sum of money, or thing of value, or certificate, or policy guaranteeing any fixed amount to be paid at death, except such fixed amounts or endowments which are conditioned upon their being realized from the assessments made on members to meet them, shall do business in this state until it complies with the laws regulating regular mutual life insurance companies.

Section 3919.19 | Examination by superintendent.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

Each corporation, company, or association organized under section 3919.01 of the Revised Code and each applicant for a certificate of authority under this chapter shall be subject to examination by the superintendent of insurance in accordance with section 3901.07 of the Revised Code. Section 3901.07 of the Revised Code shall govern every aspect of the examination, including the circumstances under and frequency with which it is conducted, the authority of the superintendent and any examiner or other person appointed by the superintendent, the liability for the assessment of expenses incurred in conducting the examination, and the remittance of the assessment to the department of insurance operating fund.

Last updated October 3, 2023 at 12:17 PM

Section 3919.21 | Admission of foreign insurance companies.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

Any corporation, company, or association organized under the laws of any other state to transact the business of life or accident or life and accident insurance on the assessment plan, as a condition precedent to transacting business in this state, shall deposit with the superintendent of insurance the following:

(A) A certified copy of its charter or articles of incorporation;

(B) A certificate from the insurance commissioner or superintendent of its own state, showing its authority to do such business;

(C) A certificate from the commissioner, superintendent, or other like authority of its own state, stating that corporations, companies, or associations of this state engaged in life or accident insurance on the assessment plan, upon complying with the laws of such state, are entitled to do business therein;

(D) A statement under the oath of its president and its secretary or like officers, in the form required by the superintendent, of its business for the preceding year;

(E) A certificate under the oath of its president and secretary, or like officers, that such corporation, company, or association is paying, and for the twelve months next preceding has paid, the maximum amount named in its policies or certificates;

(F) A copy of its policy or certificate, application, and bylaws, which must show that the liabilities of the assured or members are not limited to fixed or artificial premiums;

(G) Evidence satisfactory to such superintendent that the corporation, company, or association has accumulated and maintained a fund securely invested in securities permitted by the law of its incorporation, not less in amount than the proceeds of one of its periodical payments or an assessment on all its certificates or policyholders, and that such fund is held solely for the benefit of certificate holders or policyholders and can only be used for the purposes provided in the laws of the state where incorporated; except that such fund, in the case of accident companies or accident associations, shall not be less than five thousand and need not be more than ten thousand dollars;

(H) Evidence that such corporation, company, or association, unless it is an accident insurance corporation, company, or association, does not issue certificates or policies upon the life of any person more than sixty-five years of age, or upon any life in which the beneficiary named has not a legal insurable interest.

No license to do business in this state shall be delivered to any such corporation, company, or association until it has filed with the superintendent an appointment of an attorney within this state upon whom service of process may be had.

Section 3919.22 | Certificate of authority.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

Upon the compliance of any foreign corporation, company, or association with section 3919.21 of the Revised Code, the superintendent of insurance shall issue to such corporation, company, or association a certificate of authority to transact its business in this state, which certificate shall be renewed annually, but he shall refuse such certificate to any such corporation, company, or association when in his judgment a refusal will best promote the public interest. All decisions made by him are subject to review by courts of competent jurisdiction.

Section 3919.23 | Revocation of authority.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The certificate of authority issued under section 3919.22 of the Revised Code shall be revoked whenever the superintendent of insurance on investigation or examination finds that such corporation, company, or association is not paying the maximum amount named in its policies or certificates in full, that such corporation, company, or association is transacting business fraudulently or illegally, or that the statement of its condition and affairs required by section 3919.25 of the Revised Code is false and fraudulent. The superintendent may also revoke such certificate of authority for failure to file the annual statement, or when upon investigation it appears that the expense of management of such company or association, for the year preceding the year in which such investigation is made, was more than thirty per cent of its income from premiums, assessments, and membership fees. Upon such revocation, the superintendent shall cause notice thereof to be published for four weeks in some newspaper published in the county of Franklin, and no new insurance shall thereafter be written by such corporation, company, or association, or any of its agents, in this state.

Section 3919.24 | Prohibition against agents of foreign companies.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

No agent of any corporation, company, or association described in section 3919.21 of the Revised Code shall transact business in this state without being first regularly appointed by such organization and without being licensed by a certificate of authority issued by the superintendent of insurance.

Section 3919.25 | Annual statement by foreign company.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

Each corporation, company, or association described in section 3919.21 of the Revised Code annually after its admittance to transact business in this state, on or before the first day of March, shall make and file in the office of the superintendent of insurance a statement, in the form required by the superintendent, of its business for the twelve months next preceding the thirty-first day of December of the preceding year.

Section 3919.26 | Fees - exceptions.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The fees to be paid by each corporation, company, or association described in section 3919.21 of the Revised Code to the superintendent of insurance, for the authority granted by him to it and its agents under the license to transact business in this state, shall be as follows:

(A) For filing a copy of the charter or articles of incorporation, twenty-five dollars;

(B) For filing each annual statement, twenty dollars;

(C) For issuing a certificate of authority or license to the company or association, one dollar;

(D) For issuing a license to each agent, one dollar;

(E) For affixing a seal and certifying any paper, one dollar.

Any company or association may pay to the superintendent the sum of twenty-five dollar for licenses issued to its agents for the year, and by so doing is entitled without further charge to licenses for as many agents as it may choose to appoint for that year. When any other state or country imposes any obligations in excess of those imposed by sections 3919.01 to 3919.41, inclusive, of the Revised Code, upon any such corporation of this state, a like obligation shall be imposed on similar corporations, and their agents, of such state or country doing business in this state.

Section 3919.27 | Life and accident business on assessment plan.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

Any corporation, company, or association described in section 3919.21 of the Revised Code which is transacting business in this state is subject only to sections 3919.01 to 3919.41, inclusive, of the Revised Code, which provide for the organization of mutual protective associations, and may transact in this state the business of life or accident or life and accident insurance on the assessment plan, for the purpose of mutual protection and relief of its members, and for the payment of stipulated sums of money to the families, heirs, executors, administrators, or assigns of the deceased members of such corporation, company, or association as the members may direct, notwithstanding such corporation, company, or association may have been organized on the assessment plan and authorized by the laws governing it to issue policies insuring lives on the plan of assessment upon surviving members without limitation.

Section 3919.28 | Action brought - service of summons.

• Effective: January 9, 1961
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 104th General Assembly

An action may be brought against a corporation, company, or association organized under section 3919.01 of the Revised Code, or against any foreign corporation, company, or association described in section 3919.21 of the Revised Code doing business in this state, in any county where such cause of action arises, and summons may be issued and service had as provided by law for the issuance and service of such writs in the court of common pleas.

Section 3919.29 | Restrictions on issuance of policies.

• Effective: March 31, 2003
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 245 - 124th General Assembly

No corporation, company, or association organized under section 3919.01 of the Revised Code shall issue a certificate or policy to any person, until such person has first been subjected to a thorough medical examination by a physician, a physician assistant, a clinical nurse specialist, a certified nurse practitioner, or a certified nurse-midwife and found to be a good risk, nor shall it issue a certificate or policy to any person above the age of sixty-five years or under the age of fifteen years. Any written documentation of the physical examination shall be completed by the individual who conducted the examination.

This section, in respect to the age and medical examination of persons to whom certificates or policies may issue, does not apply to such corporations, companies, or associations doing purely accident business.

Section 3919.30 | Expenses.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The expenses of a corporation, company, or association organized under section 3919.01 of the Revised Code must be met by fixed annual payments, or by assessments made and designated to be for such expenses; such assessments in no case shall be made or become a part of assessments to pay a loss by death. No part of the mortuary fund in any case shall be used to pay expenses.

Section 3919.31 | Organization of accident and health insurance companies.

• Effective: October 23, 1991
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 16 - 119th General Assembly

Companies consisting of five or more citizens of this state may be organized under sections 3919.01 to 3919.38 of the Revised Code for the special purpose of insuring against accidental personal injury and loss of life sustained while traveling by railroad, steamboat, or other mode of conveyance, and against accidental loss of life and personal injury sustained by accident of any description whatever, and against expenses and loss of time occasioned by injury or sickness. The insurance may be on the terms and conditions, and for the periods of time, and confined to the countries, localities, and persons, that may at any time be provided for in the bylaws of the company.

This section does not prohibit accident and health insurance companies, organized under this section, from issuing life insurance when their surplus equals one hundred thousand dollars or more, provided that when such accident or accident and sickness insurance companies have become qualified to issue life insurance, they shall conform to and be controlled by Chapters 3911. and 3915. of the Revised Code, in the issuance of the life insurance.

Section 3919.32 | Restriction against new accident and health companies.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

No corporation, company, or association shall be organized in this state or admitted to do business in this state to transact the business of sickness and accident insurance, as provided in section 3919.31 of the Revised Code, or accident insurance, as provided in section 3919.35 of the Revised Code.

This section does not prevent the renewal of the certificates of authority of companies authorized to do such business in this state prior to May 26, 1939.

Section 3919.33 | Expenses - separation of funds.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The expenses of corporations, companies, or associations referred to in section 3919.31 of the Revised Code shall be met by fixed annual payments, payable quarterly or otherwise, or by assessments on the members, payable as provided in the bylaws. On either plan there may be included, in such payments or assessments, a certain per cent thereof, to be fixed by the bylaws, which when collected must be credited on the books of the company to the expense fund, and the residue of such payments or assessments must be credited to the fund to pay losses and create a reserve or guarantee fund for the payment of losses and liabilities. Such funds must be kept separate and never shall be interchanged or used for purposes other than those for which they were respectively collected; except that funds collected, but not required for expenses, may be transferred to the fund for payment of losses or the reserve or guarantee fund. The assessed member shall be notified at the time of the collection of each payment, the per cent thereof that is collected to pay expenses, and the per cent thereof that is collected to pay losses and create a guarantee fund.

This section does not prevent the company from distributing to certificate holders the surplus in the accident fund and the surplus arising from the reserve on lapsed and canceled certificates, as provided by the bylaws of the company.

Section 3919.34 | Bond.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

A company organized under section 3919.31 of the Revised Code, before engaging in business, must execute a bond in the sum of one hundred thousand dollars to the state, with security to the acceptance and approval of the superintendent of insurance, for the use and benefit of all persons holding policies or certificates in such company. Said bond shall be conditioned that any such company shall credit upon its books all moneys received by it under this section and section 3919.33 of the Revised Code, that it will keep the funds separate and not use or interchange them for purposes other than those for which they were respectively collected, and that it will apply and pay out such funds to and for the purposes provided for in section 3919.33 of the Revised Code. When so executed and approved, the bond shall be deposited with and held by the superintendent.

Section 3919.35 | Bond of accident insurance only company.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

A corporation, company, or association which is organized for the purpose of doing a purely accident insurance business, and which creates a reserve or guarantee fund from the premiums collected by assessments or otherwise, as provided in its bylaws, is not required to deposit a bond of one hundred thousand dollars; but the treasurer of such organization, before it commences business, shall deposit with the superintendent of insurance a bond with approved securities, to his acceptance, in the sum of ten thousand dollars, for the use and purposes provided in section 3919.34 of the Revised Code.

Section 3919.36 | Investment of reserve fund.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

Every corporation, company, or association referred to in section 3919.31 of the Revised Code shall invest, as provided by law for domestic life insurance companies, so much of the reserve or guarantee fund, in excess of ten thousand dollars, as will equal at least two and one-half per cent of all premiums or assessments collected from policies or certificates in force, on the last days of June and December of each year, until such reserve or guarantee fund is equal to two dollars for every five thousand dollars of insurance in force. Securities for such reserve shall be deposited with the superintendent of insurance on the last days of June and December of each year, or within thirty days thereafter, to be held by him for the benefit and protection of policyholders or certificate holders.

Section 3919.37 | Release of security.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

If a corporation, company, or association referred to in section 3919.31 of the Revised Code at any time causes all of its unexpired policies or certificates to be paid, canceled, or reinsured, and all its liabilities under such policies or certificates to be extinguished thereby, or to be assumed by some other responsible company authorized to do business in this state, the superintendent of insurance shall deliver to it the securities required by section 3919.36 of the Revised Code, on application of such company, verified by the oath of its president or secretary, and if the superintendent is satisfied by an examination of its books and officers, under oath, that all of its policies or certificates are so paid, canceled, extinguished, or reinsured.

Section 3919.38 | Annual statement by accident insurance company.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

Annually, before the first day of March, every corporation, company, or association referred to in section 3919.31 of the Revised Code shall file with the superintendent of insurance a statement under the oath of its officers showing its transactions for the year ending on the thirty-first day of December preceding, and its condition on that day, in the form prescribed by the superintendent.

Section 3919.39 | Mutual benefit societies excepted.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

Sections 3919.16 to 3919.38, inclusive, of the Revised Code do not apply to any association of religious or secret societies, or to any class of mechanics, express, telegraph, or railroad employees, or of ex-union soldiers, formed for the mutual benefit of the member thereof and their families or blood relatives exclusively, or for purely charitable purposes.

Section 3919.40 | Mutual benefit societies subject to insurance laws.

• Effective: August 8, 1991
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 137 - 119th General Assembly

Any association or class described in section 3919.39 of the Revised Code which desires to become subject to sections 3919.16 to 3919.19 of the Revised Code, may file with the superintendent of insurance notice thereof in writing, signed by its president and attested by its secretary. Thereupon such association or class shall become subject to such sections. The superintendent immediately must provide such an association or class with proper blanks for furnishing the statement of its condition required by section 3919.16 of the Revised Code, and it shall make such report within sixty days after it has received such blanks, and annually thereafter as in the case of other insurance companies, which report shall be included by the superintendent in his annual report, the same as the reports of other companies, and shall be subject to the fees prescribed by law in like cases payable by life insurance companies.

Section 3919.41 | Bond of treasurer.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The treasurer of any association or class described in section 3919.39 of the Revised Code which avails itself of the benefits of sections 3919.16 to 3919.38, inclusive, of the Revised Code, shall give bond in the manner provided for treasurers of mutual benefit companies, such bond to be conditioned, approved, and renewed as by such treasurer.