Theodore R. McKeldin, Governor                      23

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That a new section be and the same is hereby added to Article 48A
of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1951 Edition), title "Insurance",
sub-title "Life, Accident and Health Insurance", said new section
to be known as Section 149A, to follow immediately after Section 149
of said Article, and to read as follows:

149A. (Definitions.) In this Article: (a) "Life Insurance" means
every insurance upon the lives of human beings and every insurance
appertaining thereto. The business of life insurance shall be deemed
to include the granting of endowment benefits; additional benefits in
the event of dismemberment or loss of sight or in the event of death
by accident or accidental means; additional benefits operating to safe-
guard the contract from lapse, or to provide a special surrender value,
or special benefit, or annuity, in the event of total and permanent dis-
ability of the insured; and optional modes of settlement of proceeds.
A "life insurance policy" is a contract providing for "life insurance"
as defined in this subsection.

(b)   "Annuities" means all agreements to make periodical pay-
ments where the making or continuance of all or of some of a series of
such payments, or the amount of any such payment, is dependent upon
the continuance of human life, except payments made under the au-
thority of Sub-section (a) of this section. The business of annuities
shall be deemed to include additional benefits operating to safeguard
the contract from lapse, or to provide a special surrender value, or
special benefit, or annuity, in the event of total and permanent dis-
ability of the holder. An "annuity contract" is a contract providing
for an "annuity" as defined in this sub-section.

(c)  "Accident and Sickness Insurance" or "Accident and Health
Insurance" means insurance against loss resulting from bodily injury
or death by accident, or from sickness, or from both. Throughout
this Article, except in the case of additional disability and accidental
death benefits which may be included in life insurance policies and
annuity contracts in accordance with subsections (a) and (b) of
this section and except where the context indicates otherwise, when-
ever a section makes reference to any of the following types of in-
surance: "accident and sickness insurance", "accident and health in-
surance", "insurance against disability from accident and sickness",
"insurance against accident, sickness and disability", "insurance
against disability as a result of disease, accident, or old age", "in-
surance of persons against disability from accident and sickness",
"accident or health insurance", "health and accident insurance",
"hospitalization insurance", "sickness or disability insurance", "in-
surance against bodily injury, disablement, or death by accident, or
against disablement resulting from sickness or old age, and every
insurance appertaining thereto", it shall be construed to apply to
"accident and sickness insurance" as defined in this subsection. An
"accident and sickness insurance policy" is a contract providing for
"accident and sickness insurance" as defined in this subsection.

(d)  "Premium" as used in connection with any contracts defined
in Sub-sections (a), (b) and (c) of this section means all sums
charged, received, or deposited as consideration for such contract or
the continuance thereof.