(1) All insurers issuing accident or health policies, or combinations thereof, in this State, where the premiums on the policies are collected directly by mail on a quarterly, semiannual, or annual basis, shall give a written notice to the policyholders of any premium due on the policies at least ten days prior to the due date. No premium is considered past due on the policies unless the policyholder has been given this notice and the policy remains in full force and effect until the expiration of the ten-day period after notice has been given. In the event the premium is not paid upon first notice at least ten days prior to lapsing of the policy a second notice must be forwarded to the insured. Nothing contained in this section applies to the following kinds of health and accident policies: debit accident insurance, debit health insurance, debit accident and health insurance, group accident and health insurance, franchise accident and health insurance, salaries savings accident and health insurance, credit accident and health insurance, accident and health insurance where premiums are paid by bank draft or preauthorized check service, and blanket insurance.

(2) This section may not be construed to relieve any policyholder from paying any premium or portion thereof, nor may it be construed so as to prevent termination for any other valid reason.

HISTORY: Former 1976 Code Section 38-35-160 [1962 Code Section 37-457.1; 1973 (58) 766; 1974 (58) 2863] recodified as Section 38-71-610 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 1; 1988 Act No. 394, Section 9.