Pioneer American Life Insurance Refunds Administration
This MARADMIN addresses refunds for Marines who purchased Pioneer American Life Insurance policies at Camp Pendleton between March 2003 and December 2003 following an investigation that found agents violated DoD regulations by misrepresenting themselves and their products. Eligible Marines can request full refunds by submitting a cancellation notice to Pioneer American Insurance Company no later than June 8, 2004, with extensions available for those deployed outside the United States.
Issued: February 11, 2004
1. A RECENT INVESTIGATION CONDUCTED BY THE CAMP PENDLETON STAFF JUDGE ADVOCATE CONCLUDED THAT LAST YEAR, CERTAIN AGENTS OF THE PIONEER AMERICAN INSURANCE COMPANY VIOLATED VARIOUS DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE REGULATIONS BY IDENTIFYING THEMSELVES AS DISINTERESTED FINANCIAL ADVISIORS AS THEY SOLICITED BUSINESS ON BEHALF OF PIONEER, AND MISREPRESENTED LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES AS OTHER TYPES OF FINANCIAL PRODUCTS. AS MANY AS 500 ACTIVE DUTY AND RESERVE MARINES MAY HAVE PURCHASED PIONEER POLICIES AT CAMP PENDLETON DURING THE PERIOD OF THE INVESTIGATION. 2. BASED UPON THE INVESTIGATION, PIONEER HAS AGREED TO REFUND, UPON REQUEST, ALL MONIES IT RECEIVED FOR POLICIES THAT WERE SOLD TO MARINES AT CAMP PENDLETON FROM MARCH 2003 THROUGH DECEMBER 2003. MARINES WHO PURCHASED A POLICY DURING THAT TIMEFRAME MAY RECEIVE A REFUND PROVIDED THAT THE POLICY HAS NOT LAPSED FOR NON-PAYMENT AND THAT A NOTICE OF CANCELLATION IS SUBMITTED TO PIONEER NO LATER THAN 8 JUNE 2004. NOTE THAT THIS 120-DAY PERIOD WILL BE SUSPENDED FOR AN EQUAL NUMBER OF DAYS THAT A MARINE IS DEPLOYED OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES. AN OVERSEAS PCS ASSIGNMENT, FOR EXAMPLE TO OKINAWA JAPAN OTHER THAN FOR UDP, WOULD NOT QUALIFY AS A DEPLOYMENT. IF ALREADY IN A PERIOD OF DEPLOYMENT, MARINES SHOULD CONTINUE TO MAKE PAYMENTS ON THEIR POLICIES, AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION ON THIS MATTER UPON THEIR RETURN TO THE UNITED STATES. 3. TO CANCEL A POLICY AND OBTAIN A REFUND, MARINES MUST COMPLETE THE "NOTICE OF CANCELLATION LETTER" PREPARED AND PUBLISHED AT: "WWW.USMC.MIL" UNDER "CURRENT LEGAL ADVISORIES FOR MARINES". PRINT THE COMPLETED NOTICE AND FAX IT TO PIONEER AT (254) 297-2709, ATTN: MS. DEI CASIANO, BEFORE THE APPLICABLE DEADLINE. MARINES SHOULD SAVE A COMPLETED NOTICE AND FAX CONFIRMATION RECEIPT FOR THEIR FILES. 4. ALTHOUGH MARINES ARE URGED TO FAX THEIR NOTICES TO PIONEER, THEY MAY INSTEAD MAIL THE NOTICES TO: "PIONEER AMERICAN INSURANCE COMPANY; P.O. BOX 240; WACO, TEXAS 76703-0240; ATTN: MS. DEI CASIANO". SUCH NOTICES SHOULD BE SENT BY CERTIFIED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED. 5. UPON SENDING THE NOTICE TO PIONEER AND OBTAINING CONFIRMATION OF RECEIPT, MARINES MAY DISCONTINUE PAYING THE PREMIUMS ON THEIR PIONEER POLICIES. THEREAFTER, PIONEER WILL ATTEMPT TO REFUND, WITHIN 30 DAYS OF RECEIPT OF THE NOTICE, ALL MONIES PAID UNDER THE POLICY. THE REFUND CHECK WILL BE MAILED FROM PIONEER TO THE MARINE AT THE ADDRESS THE MARINE PROVIDES IN THE NOTICE. 6. MARINES ARE ENCOURAGED TO CONTACT THEIR LOCAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE OFFICE FOR ASSISTANCE WITH THIS MATTER. 7. ACTION: ENSURE THAT ALL MARINES ARE MADE AWARE OF THIS MATTER, AND IMMEDIATELY REFER THEM TO THE AREA LEGAL ASSISTANCE OFFICE, OR STAFF JUDGE ADVOCATE FOR ASSISTANCE.