§ 3977. Premiums and interest guaranteed by United States

• (a)
  • (1) Payment of premiums, and interest on premiums at the rate specified in section 3976 of this title , which become due on a policy under the protection of this subchapter is guaranteed by the United States. If the amount guaranteed is not paid to the insurer before the period of insurance protection under this subchapter expires, the amount due shall be treated by the insurer as a policy loan on the policy.
  • (2) If, at the expiration of insurance protection under this subchapter, the cash surrender value of a policy is less than the amount due to pay premiums and interest on premiums on the policy, the policy shall terminate. Upon such termination, the United States shall pay the insurer the difference between the amount due and the cash surrender value.
• (b)
  • (1) The amount paid by the United States to an insurer under this subchapter shall be a debt payable to the United States by the insured on whose policy payment was made.
  • (2) Such amount may be collected by the United States, either as an offset from any amount due the insured by the United States or as otherwise authorized by law.
  • (3) Such debt payable to the United States is not dischargeable in bankruptcy proceedings.
• (c) Any amounts received by the United States as repayment of debts incurred by an insured under this subchapter shall be credited to the appropriation for the payment of claims under this subchapter.