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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
Regular Session, 2014 ENROLLED
SENATE BILL NO. 178
BY SENATORS MORRISH, ADLEY, ALARIO, ALLAIN, AMEDEE, APPEL,
BROOME, BROWN, BUFFI NGTON, CHABERT, CL AITOR,
CORTEZ, CROWE, DONAHUE, ERDEY, GUILLORY, JOHNS,
LONG, MARTINY, MILLS, MURRAY, NEVERS, PEACOCK,
PERRY, PETERSON, RISER, GARY SMITH, JOHN SMITH,
TARVER, THOMPSON, WAL SWORTH AND WARD
AN ACT1
To enact Subpart J-1 of Part I of Chapter 2 of Title 22 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of2
1950, to be comprised of R.S. 22:318 and 319, relative to health care sharing3
ministries; to provide for the definition of a health care sharing ministry; to provide4
with respect to required disclaimers; to provide for the exemption from provisions5
of the state insurance laws; and to provide for related matters.6
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:7
Section 1. Subpart J-1 of Part I of Chapter 2 of Title 22 of the Louisiana Revised8
Statutes of 1950, to be comprised of R.S. 22:318 and 319, is hereby enacted to read as9
follows:10
SUBPART J-1. HEALTH CARE SHARING MINISTRIES11
§318. Health care sharing ministry; definitions12
As used in this Subpart, "health care sharing ministry" means a faith-13
based, nonprofit, tax-exempt organization that does each of the following:14
(1) Limits its participants to those who are of a similar faith and acts as15
a facilitator between participants who have financial or medical needs and those16
participants with the ability to provide financial or medical assistance in17
accordance with criteria established by the ministry.18
(2) Provides amounts that participants may contribute without19
assumption of risk or promise to pay by the participants or by the ministry.20
(3) Provides a written monthly statement to all participants listing the21
total dollar amount of qualified financial or medical needs submitted to the22
ministry and the dollar amount actually published or assigned to the23
participants for their contribution.24
ACT No. 20 SB NO. 178 ENROLLED
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words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
(4) Provides a written disclaimer on or with all applications and1
guideline materials distributed by or on behalf of the ministry that reads, in2
substance: "Notice: The ministry facilitating the sharing of medical expenses3
is not an insurance company. Neither the guidelines nor the plan of operation4
of the ministry constitutes an insurance policy. Financial assistance for the5
payment of medical expenses is strictly voluntary. Participation in the ministry6
or a subscription to any publication issued by the ministry shall not be7
considered as enrollment in any health insurance plan or as a waiver of your8
responsibility to pay your medical expenses."9
§ 319. Exemption from provisions of the Insurance Code10
Health care sharing ministries shall be exempt from all provisions of the11
insurance laws of this state unless the ministries are expressly provided for in12
such provisions or unless the provision is specifically made applicable by this13
Subpart.14
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED: