GENERAL PROVISIONS Assignment The rights and benefits under the Group Policy are not assignable prior to a claim for benefits, except as required by law. We are not responsible for the validity of an assignment. Beneficiary You may designate a Beneficiary in Your application or enrollment form. You may change Your Beneficiary at any time. To do so, You must send a Signed and dated, Written request to Us using a form satisfactory to Us. Your Written request to change the Beneficiary must be sent to Us within 30 days of the date You Sign such request. You do not need the Beneficiary’s consent to make a change. When We receive the change, it will take effect as of the date You Signed it. The change will not apply to any payment made in good faith by Us before the change request was recorded. If two or more Beneficiaries are designated and their shares are not specified, they will share the insurance equally. If there is no Beneficiary designated or no surviving designated Beneficiary at Your death, We may determine the Beneficiary to be one or more of the following who survive You: 1. Your Spouse or State-Registered Domestic Partner; 2. Your biological child(ren), legally adopted child(ren), and stepchildren, including children of Your State- Registered Domestic Partner; 3. Your natural or adopted parent(s); or 4. Your sibling(s). Instead of making payment to any of the above, We may pay Your estate. Any payment made in good faith will discharge our liability to the extent of such payment. If a Beneficiary or a payee is a minor or incompetent to receive payment, We will pay that person's guardian. Entire Contract Your insurance is provided under a contract of group insurance with the Policyholder. The entire contract with the Policyholder is made up of the following: 1. the Group Policy and its Exhibits, which include the certificate(s); 2. the Policyholder's application; and 3. any amendments and/or endorsements to the Group Policy. Incontestability: Statements Made by You Any statement made by You will be considered a representation and not a warranty. We will not use such statement to avoid insurance, reduce benefits or defend a claim unless the following requirements are met: 1. the statement is in a Written application or enrollment form; 2. You have Signed the application or enrollment form; and 3. a copy of the application or enrollment form has been given to You or Your Beneficiary. We will not use Your statements which relate to insurability to contest life insurance after it has been in force for 2 years during Your life. In addition, We will not use such statements to contest an increase or benefit addition to such insurance after the increase or benefit has been in force for 2 years during Your life. GCERT2024-WSHCA-WA-LIFE-RETIREE1 29