MARADMINS : 059/04
R 111730Z FEB 04
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(uc)
TO AL MARADMIN(uc)
MARADMIN
BT
UNCLASSIFIED
MARADMIN 059/04
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC JA//
SUBJ/POINEER AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE REFUNDS ADMINISTRATION//
POC/DAHNERT/CWO5/JA DIVISION/-/TEL:(703)614-8661
/EMAIL:DAHNERTDR@HQMC.USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/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.//