Fla. Stat. 624.1265
Nonprofit religious organization exemption; authority; notice


(1)

A nonprofit religious organization is not subject to the requirements of the Florida Insurance Code if the nonprofit religious organization:Qualifies under Title 26, s. 501 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended;Limits its participants to those members who share a common set of ethical or religious beliefs;Acts as a facilitator among participants who have financial, physical, or medical needs to assist those with financial, physical, or medical needs in accordance with criteria established by the nonprofit religious organization;Provides for the financial or medical needs of a participant through contributions from other participants, or through payments directly from one participant to another participant;Provides amounts that participants may contribute, with no assumption of risk and no promise to pay:
Among the participants; or
By the nonprofit religious organization to the participants;
Provides a monthly accounting to the participants of the total dollar amount of qualified needs actually shared in the previous month in accordance with criteria established by the nonprofit religious organization;Conducts an annual audit that is performed by an independent certified public accounting firm in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and that is made available to the public by providing a copy upon request or by posting on the nonprofit religious organization’s website; andDoes not market or sell health plans through agents licensed by the department under chapter 626.

(a)

Qualifies under Title 26, s. 501 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended;

(b)

Limits its participants to those members who share a common set of ethical or religious beliefs;

(c)

Acts as a facilitator among participants who have financial, physical, or medical needs to assist those with financial, physical, or medical needs in accordance with criteria established by the nonprofit religious organization;

(d)

Provides for the financial or medical needs of a participant through contributions from other participants, or through payments directly from one participant to another participant;

(e)

Provides amounts that participants may contribute, with no assumption of risk and no promise to pay:Among the participants; orBy the nonprofit religious organization to the participants;
1. Among the participants; or
2. By the nonprofit religious organization to the participants;

(f)

Provides a monthly accounting to the participants of the total dollar amount of qualified needs actually shared in the previous month in accordance with criteria established by the nonprofit religious organization;

(g)

Conducts an annual audit that is performed by an independent certified public accounting firm in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and that is made available to the public by providing a copy upon request or by posting on the nonprofit religious organization’s website; and

(h)

Does not market or sell health plans through agents licensed by the department under chapter 626.

(2)

This section does not prevent:A participant from limiting the financial or medical needs that may be eligible for payment; orThe nonprofit religious organization from canceling the membership of a participant when such participant indicates his or her unwillingness to participate by failing to meet the conditions of membership for a period in excess of 60 days.

(a)

A participant from limiting the financial or medical needs that may be eligible for payment; or

(b)

The nonprofit religious organization from canceling the membership of a participant when such participant indicates his or her unwillingness to participate by failing to meet the conditions of membership for a period in excess of 60 days.

(3)

The nonprofit religious organization shall provide a written disclaimer on or accompanying all applications and guideline materials distributed by or on behalf of the nonprofit religious organization. The disclaimer must read in substance: “Notice: The organization facilitating the sharing of medical expenses is not an insurance company, and neither its guidelines nor its plan of operation is an insurance policy. Membership is not offered through an insurance company, and the organization is not subject to the regulatory requirements or consumer protections of the Florida Insurance Code. Whether anyone chooses to assist you with your medical bills will be totally voluntary because no other participant is compelled by law to contribute toward your medical bills. As such, participation in the organization or a subscription to any of its documents should never be considered to be insurance. Regardless of whether you receive any payments for medical expenses or whether this organization continues to operate, you are always personally responsible for the payment of your own medical bills.”

Source: Section 624.1265 — Nonprofit religious organization exemption; authority; notice, https://www.­flsenate.­gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/0624.­1265 (accessed Aug. 7, 2025).

624.01
Short title
624.02
“Insurance” defined
624.03
“Insurer” defined
624.04
“Person” defined
624.05
“Department,” “commission,” and “office” defined
624.06
“Domestic,” “foreign,” “alien” insurer defined
624.07
“Domicile” defined
624.08
“State” defined
624.09
“Authorized,” “unauthorized” insurer defined
624.10
Other definitions
624.11
Compliance required
624.12
Application of code as to fraternal benefit societies
624.13
Particular provisions prevail
624.15
General penalty
624.19
Existing forms and filings
624.21
Prospective operation of amendments to code
624.23
Public records exemption
624.24
Prohibition against requiring the purchase of health insurance
624.25
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
624.26
Collaborative arrangement with the Department of Health and Human Services
624.27
Direct health care agreements
624.031
“Self-insurance” defined
624.075
“Commercially domiciled insurer” defined
624.105
Waiver of customer liability
624.115
Referral of criminal violations
624.123
Certain international health insurance policies
624.124
Motor vehicle services
624.125
Certain motor vehicle service agreements
624.126
Certain mutual aid associations
624.127
Certain political subdivisions offering prepaid ambulance service plans
624.128
Crime victims exemption
624.129
Certain location and recovery services
624.155
Civil remedy
624.215
Proposals for legislation which mandates health benefit coverage
624.231
Disclosure and fees for production of records
624.1055
Right of contribution among liability insurers for defense costs
624.1265
Nonprofit religious organization exemption
624.1275
Insurance agents
624.1551
Civil remedy actions against property insurers
624.1552
Civil actions involving an insurance contract

Current through Fall 2025

§ 624.1265. Nonprofit religious organization exemption; authority; notice's source at flsenate​.gov