---
kind: "section"
citation: "50 U.S.C. § 3973"
title: "50"
title_heading: "War and National Defense"
number: "3973"
heading: "Application for insurance protection"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/50/3973"
units:
  - "Chapter 50 — Servicemembers Civil Relief"
  - "Subchapter IV — Life Insurance"
---

# §3973. Application for insurance protection

- (a) **Application procedure—** An application for protection under this subchapter shall—
  - (1) be in writing and signed by the [insured](/usc/50/3971.md?p=3), the [insured](/usc/50/3971.md?p=3)’s legal representative, or the [insured](/usc/50/3971.md?p=3)’s beneficiary, as the case may be;
  - (2) identify the [policy](/usc/50/3971.md?p=1) and the [insurer](/usc/50/3971.md?p=4); and
  - (3) include an acknowledgement that the [insured](/usc/50/3971.md?p=3)’s rights under the [policy](/usc/50/3971.md?p=1) are subject to and modified by the provisions of this subchapter.
- (b) **Additional requirements—** The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may require additional information from the applicant, the [insured](/usc/50/3971.md?p=3) and the [insurer](/usc/50/3971.md?p=4) to determine if the [policy](/usc/50/3971.md?p=1) is entitled to protection under this subchapter.
- (c) **Notice to the Secretary by the insurer—** Upon receipt of the application of the [insured](/usc/50/3971.md?p=3), the [insurer](/usc/50/3971.md?p=4) shall furnish a report concerning the [policy](/usc/50/3971.md?p=1) to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs as required by regulations prescribed by the Secretary.
- (d) **Policy modification—** Upon application for protection under this subchapter, the [insured](/usc/50/3971.md?p=3) and the [insurer](/usc/50/3971.md?p=4) shall have constructively agreed to any [policy](/usc/50/3971.md?p=1) modification necessary to give this title full force and effect.

## Source credit

(Oct. 17, 1940, ch. 888, title IV, § 403, as added Pub. L. 108–189, § 1, Dec. 19, 2003, 117 Stat. 2852.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 543 of the former Appendix to this title prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 403 of act Oct. 17, 1940, ch. 888, art. IV, 54 Stat. 1184; Oct. 6, 1942, ch. 581, § 13, 56 Stat. 775; Pub. L. 102–12, § 9(14), Mar. 18, 1991, 105 Stat. 40, related to determination of policies entitled to protection, notice to parties, and lapse of policies for nonpayment of premiums, prior to the general amendment of this Act by Pub. L. 108–189. See section 3974 of this title.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section applicable to any case not final before Dec. 19, 2003, see section 3 of Pub. L. 108–189, set out as a note under section 3901 of this title.