                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

DEFINITION (§ 38.2-6300)

As used in this chapter, &#8220;health care sharing ministry&#8221; means a
health care cost sharing arrangement among individuals of the same religion
based on their sincerely held religious beliefs, which arrangement is
administered by a non-profit organization that has been granted an exemption
from federal income taxation pursuant to § 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 and that:

1. Limits its membership to individuals who are of a similar faith;

2. Acts as an organizational clearinghouse for information about members who
have financial or medical needs and matches them with members with the present
ability to assist those with financial or medical needs, all in accordance with
the organization&#8217;s criteria;

3. Provides for the financial or medical needs of a member through payments
directly from one member to another. The requirements of this subdivision 3 may
be satisfied by a trust established solely for the benefit of members, which
trust is audited annually by an independent auditing firm;

4. Provides amounts that members/subscribers may contribute with (i) no
assumption of risk or promise to pay among the members and (ii) no assumption of
risk or promise to pay by the organization to the members;

5. Provides written monthly statements to all members that list the total dollar
amount of qualified needs submitted to the organization by members for their
contribution; and

6. Provides in substance the following written disclaimer on or accompanying all
promotional documents distributed by or on behalf of the organization, including
applications and guideline materials:
			&#8220;Notice:
			This publication is not insurance, and is not offered through an insurance
company. Whether anyone chooses to assist you with your medical bills will be
totally voluntary, as no other member will be compelled by law to contribute
toward your medical bills. As such, this publication should never be considered
to be insurance. Whether you receive any payments for medical expenses and
whether or not this publication continues to operate, you are always personally
responsible for the payment of your own medical bills.&#8221;

HISTORY: 2008, c. 232.