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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>61631</law_id><section_number>38.2-4208</section_number><catch_line>Nonstock corporation not required to act as agent</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>38.2-4212</reference><reference>38.2-4230</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="38.2">Insurance</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="42">Health Services Plans</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="1">In General</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> A <span class="dictionary">nonstock corporation</span> may offer or administer a <span class="dictionary">plan</span> without being required to act as an agent for providers of health care services. <a id="paragraph-224997" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-4208/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> A <span class="dictionary">nonstock corporation</span> applying for its initial license pursuant to this chapter in <span class="dictionary">order</span> to offer or administer a <span class="dictionary">plan</span> must elect in its application whether to act (i) as agent for providers of health care services, in which case &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Liability of participants" href="/38.2-4210/">38.2-4210</a> and <a class="law" title="Change of participants" href="/38.2-4211/">38.2-4211</a> shall apply, or (ii) as a nonagent, in which case the provisions of subsection D of this section shall apply. <a id="paragraph-224998" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-4208/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> A <span class="dictionary">nonstock corporation</span> operating a <span class="dictionary">plan</span> pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Hospital services plans" href="/38.2-4202/">38.2-4202</a>, <a class="law" title="Medical or surgical services plans" href="/38.2-4203/">38.2-4203</a>, <a class="law" title="Merger of nonstock corporations" href="/38.2-4204/">38.2-4204</a> or this section prior to June 30, 1985, and any successor <span class="dictionary">nonstock corporation</span> shall continue to operate as either an agent or nonagent <span class="dictionary">nonstock corporation</span>, in accordance with the manner in which it was operating as of that date, provided that it may <span class="dictionary">petition</span> the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> to change its status as an agent or nonagent <span class="dictionary">nonstock corporation</span>, and if it does so, it shall give notice of the <span class="dictionary">petition</span> to all interested parties. The <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> shall conduct a <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> on the <span class="dictionary">petition</span> if requested by any interested <span class="dictionary">party</span>. A <span class="dictionary">nonstock corporation</span> seeking to change its status shall make application to the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> within ninety days following the end of any calendar year. A change in status shall only be effective as to <span class="dictionary">subscriber</span> <span class="dictionary">contracts</span> issued or renewed on and after the date of a change in status. The <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> shall enter an <span class="dictionary">order</span> in response to the <span class="dictionary">nonstock corporation</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">petition</span>. <a id="paragraph-224999" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-4208/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> If any <span class="dictionary">nonstock corporation</span> offers or administers a <span class="dictionary">plan</span> without acting as an agent for providers of health care services, the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> may elect to (i) require the <span class="dictionary">nonstock corporation</span> to maintain its contingency reserves above a minimum level set by the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span>, or (ii) subject the <span class="dictionary">nonstock corporation</span>, notwithstanding the provisions of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Purpose and applicability of chapter" href="/38.2-1700/">38.2-1700</a>, to the requirements of Chapter 17 of this title, or (iii) both. The minimum level for contingency reserves shall not exceed forty-five days of the anticipated operating expenses and incurred claims expense generated from <span class="dictionary">subscription contracts</span> issued by the <span class="dictionary">nonstock corporation</span>, and shall be computed as the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> requires. <a id="paragraph-225000" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-4208/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 32-195.5:1; 1972, c. 429, &#xA7; 38.1-816; 1974, c. 54; 1979, c. 721; 1980, c. 682; 1982, c. 129; 1983, c. 464, &#xA7; 38.1-813.4; 1985, c. 233; 1986, c. 562; 1988, c. 185.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
