HB343 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Mike Hill

Republican

Co-Sponsors

Jim McClendonBlaine GalliherEd HenryMac Buttram

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Health Care Sharing Ministries Freedom to Share Act, program for matching of health care and financial needs, disclaimers required, program not subject to Insurance Department regulations

Summary

HB343 would create the Health Care Sharing Ministries Freedom to Share Act, permitting faith-based health care sharing ministries to match medical needs with volunteers while exempting them from insurance regulation.

What This Bill Does

If enacted, health care sharing ministries would operate as faith-based, tax-exempt nonprofit networks that match participants with medical or related financial needs to other participants willing to help. These ministries would require voluntary contributions and must provide monthly statements listing needs submitted and the amounts assigned to contributors. They must include a written disclaimer informing applicants that the organization is not an insurance company or policy and that participation is voluntary with no legal obligation to contribute. The ministries would not be considered engaged in the business of insurance under Alabama law.

Who It Affects

• Participants in health care sharing ministries: they would contribute to help others and may receive help with medical expenses through the ministry's matching process.
• Applicants seeking assistance from a health care sharing ministry: they would be informed that the program is not insurance and that payments are not guaranteed; they would receive required disclosures and monthly statements.
• Health care sharing ministries themselves: they would operate under defined criteria (faith-based, tax-exempt, facilitator of matching) and follow disclosure and reporting requirements, while being exempt from traditional insurance regulation.

Key Provisions

• Defines a health care sharing ministry as a faith-based, tax-exempt nonprofit that limits participants to a similar faith, acts as a facilitator to match needs with others willing to help, and funds needs through participant contributions.
• Requires that participants be informed there is no risk or promise to pay by the ministry and that contributions are voluntary with no guarantee of coverage.
• Requires a written monthly statement for all participants listing total qualified needs and the amount allocated to participants for contributions.
• Requires a written disclaimer to applicants stating the organization is not an insurance company or policy and that participation should not be considered insurance, with personal responsibility for medical bills still acknowledged.
• Specifies that the ministry is not considered to be in the business of insurance under Title 27, and sets an effective date for the act as the first day of the third month after passage/approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Health