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50 USC § 3973 - Application for insurance protection

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t50/s3973"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "50 USC § 3973 - Application for insurance protection"
title_number: 50
title_name: "WAR AND NATIONAL DEFENSE"
section_number: "3973"
section_name: "Application for insurance protection"
chapter_number: 50
chapter_name: "SERVICEMEMBERS CIVIL RELIEF"
subchapter_number: "IV"
subchapter_name: "LIFE INSURANCE"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-21"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Oct. 17, 1940, ch. 888, title IV, § 403, as added Pub. L. 108–189, § 1, Dec. 19, 2003, 117 Stat. 2852.)"
---

# § 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, the insured’s legal representative, or the insured’s beneficiary, as the case may be;

**(2)** identify the policy and the insurer; and

**(3)** include an acknowledgement that the insured’s rights under the policy 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 and the insurer to determine if the policy is entitled to protection under this subchapter.

**(c)** **Notice to the Secretary by the insurer** Upon receipt of the application of the insured, the insurer shall furnish a report concerning the policy 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 and the insurer shall have constructively agreed to any policy 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.)

## 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 , art. IV, ; , ; , , , 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 . See .

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section applicable to any case not final before , see , set out as a note under .