IC 27-1-2.1
Chapter 2.1. Health Care Sharing Ministries
IC 27-1-2.1-1
"Health care sharing ministry"
Sec. 1. (a) As used in this chapter, "health care sharing ministry"
means a nonprofit organization that:
(1) is comprised only of participants who share similar and
sincerely held religious beliefs;
(2) is tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal
Revenue Code;
(3) acts as a facilitator among participants who have financial
or medical needs that are qualified in accordance with the
organization's criteria, matching those participants with other
participants who have the present ability to assist with financial
or medical needs;
(4) provides for the financial or medical needs of a participant
through contributions from one (1) participant to another
participant;
(5) provides information about amounts that participants, with
no assumption of risk or promise to pay, may contribute for
distribution:
(A) among the participants; or
(B) by the organization to participants;
(6) provides a written monthly statement to all participants that
specifies:
(A) the total dollar amount of qualified needs submitted to
the organization; and
(B) the amount actually published or assigned to participants
for their contribution; and
(7) includes the following statement, in writing, on or
accompanying all applications and guideline materials:
"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.
Any assistance you receive with your medical bills will be
totally voluntary. Neither the organization nor any other
participant can be 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. Whether or not you receive any
payments for medical expenses and whether or not this
organization continues to operate, you are always personally
responsible for the payment of your own medical bills.".
(b) The term does not include a fraternal benefit society described
in IC 27-11-1-1.
As added by P.L.13-2012, SEC.1.
IC 27-1-2.1-2
Health care sharing ministry not engaged in the business of
insurance
Sec. 2. A health care sharing ministry is not considered to be
engaged in the business of insurance under this title or any other
provision of Indiana law.
As added by P.L.13-2012, SEC.1.
