§ 17B:27-45 — Beneficiary; direct payment to hospitals and other purveyors of services

There shall be a provision that indemnity for loss of life of the insured shall be payable to the beneficiary or beneficiaries designated by the insured, other than the policyholder or an officer thereof as such, or if no beneficiary is designated, to such other person or persons as shall be specified in the policy; and that all other indemnities of the policy are payable to the employee or member, except that, at the request of the employee or member or in the event of his death, payment of benefits to the extent of expenses incurred on account of hospitalization may be made by the insurer to the hospital and except that the group policy may provide that all or any portion of any benefits on account of hospital, nursing, medical or surgical services may, at the insurer's option, be paid directly to the hospital or person rendering such services provided, further, that authorization for any such payments has been obtained from the insured. If a beneficiary is designated, the consent of the beneficiary shall not be requisite to change of beneficiary or to any other changes in the policy or certificate except as may be specifically provided by the policy. This section shall not apply to a blanket insurance policy issued to an airline under which the benefits are payable to the airline or a trust established by the airline and the premiums are paid from its funds. L.1971, c. 144, s. 17B:27-45.