(a) (1) Supplemental benefits that operate to safeguard life insurance contracts against lapse are defined as a waiver of premium benefit or a waiver of monthly deduction benefit, as applicable, in which the insurer waives the premium or monthly deduction for a life insurance contract when the insured becomes totally disabled, as defined by the supplemental benefit, and where the waiver continues until the end of the insuredâs disability, or for the period specified by the supplemental benefit, consistent with paragraph (5). (2) For purposes of this subdivision, total disability shall not be less favorable to the insured than the following: (A) During the first 24 months of total disability, the insured is unable to perform with reasonable continuity the substantial and material duties of their job due to sickness or bodily injury. (B) After the first 24 months of total disability, the insured, due to sickness or bodily injury, is unable to engage with reasonable continuity in any other job in which they could reasonably be expected to perform satisfactorily in light of their age, education, training, experience, station in life, or physical and mental capacity. (3) The definition of total disability may also include presumptive total disability, such as the insuredâs total and permanent loss of sight of both eyes, hearing of both ears, speech, the use of both hands, both feet, or one hand and one foot. (4) The insurer may require total disability to continue for an uninterrupted period of time specified by the supplemental benefit, or the insurer may allow separate periods of disability to be combined. (5) The waiver of premium or monthly deduction benefit shall continue for the period specified by the supplemental benefit, but shall not be less favorable to the insured than the following: (A) If the insuredâs total disability begins before the insured attains 60 years of age, the insurer shall waive all premiums or monthly deductions due for the period that the insured continues to be totally disabled, except as follows: (i) For group life insurance policies, if the insuredâs total disability begins before the insured attains 60 years of age, the insurer shall waive all premiums or monthly deductions due for the period of total disability up to 65 years of age. This subdivision does not preclude the insurer from extending a supplemental benefit for longer periods. (ii) When a renewal is offered for a group life insurance policy that was issued prior to January 1, 2017, and contains a supplemental benefit described in this subparagraph, the insurer shall offer to renew the policy with a continuation of the in-force supplemental benefit, and may concurrently offer the group policyholder the option to change the supplemental benefit as described in clause (i). (B) If the insuredâs total disability begins after the age specified in subparagraph (A), the insurer shall waive all premiums or monthly deductions due for the period that the insured continues to be totally disabled up to 65 years of age, except as follows: (i) For group life insurance policies, if the insuredâs total disability begins on or after the date the insured attains 60 years of age, the insurer is not required to waive premiums or monthly deductions. This subdivision does not preclude the insurer from extending a supplemental benefit for longer periods. (ii) When a renewal is offered for a group life insurance policy that was issued prior to January 1, 2017, and contains a supplemental benefit described in this subparagraph, the insurer shall offer to renew the policy with a continuation of the in-force supplemental benefit, and may concurrently offer the group policyholder the option to change the supplemental benefit as described in clause (i). (6) In addition to the permissible exclusions listed in subdivision (g) of Section 10271, the insurer may exclude a total disability occurring after the policy anniversary or supplemental contract annivers
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