A. Within ten (10) days after an insurer receives written notification of the death of a person covered by a policy of life insurance, the insurer shall provide to the claimant the necessary forms to be completed to establish proof of the death of the insured and, if required by the policy, the interest of the claimant. If the policy contains a provision requiring surrender of the policy prior to settlement, the insurer shall include a written statement to that effect with the forms to be completed. Forms to establish proof of death and proof of the interest of the claimant shall be approved by the Insurance Commissioner.

B. An insurer shall pay the proceeds of any benefits under a policy of life insurance not more than thirty (30) days after the insurer has received proof of death of the insured. If the proceeds are not paid within this period, the insurer shall pay interest on the proceeds, at a rate which is not less than the current rate of interest on death proceeds on deposit with the insurer, from the date of death of the insured to the date when the proceeds are paid. Should the insurer hold its deposits in a noninterest bearing account, the rate of interest to be paid shall be the same rate of interest as the average United States Treasury Bill rate of the preceding calendar year, as certified to the Insurance Commissioner by the State Treasurer on the first regular business day in January of each year, plus two (2) percentage points, which shall accrue from the thirty-first day after receipt of proof of loss until the proceeds are paid. Payment shall be deemed to have been made on the date an electronic payment is made or the date a check, draft or other valid instrument which is equivalent to payment was placed in the U.S. mails in a properly addressed, postpaid envelope; or, if not so posted, on the date of delivery of such instrument to the beneficiary.

C. Subsection B of this section shall not apply to any life insurance policy issued before October 1, 1978, which contains specific provisions to the contrary.