HB 2289 — An Act amending the act of May 17, 1921 (P.L.682, No.284), known as The Insurance Company Law of 1921, in preliminary provisions, providing for health care sharing ministries.

PRINTER'S NO.    2998

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 2289
                                               Session of
                                                 2026

     INTRODUCED BY BURGOS, GUZMAN, HILL-EVANS, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, GREEN,
        K. HARRIS AND MADDEN, MARCH 13, 2026

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, MARCH 13, 2026


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of May 17, 1921 (P.L.682, No.284), entitled "An
 2      act relating to insurance; amending, revising, and
 3      consolidating the law providing for the incorporation of
 4      insurance companies, and the regulation, supervision, and
 5      protection of home and foreign insurance companies, Lloyds
 6      associations, reciprocal and inter-insurance exchanges, and
 7      fire insurance rating bureaus, and the regulation and
 8      supervision of insurance carried by such companies,
 9      associations, and exchanges, including insurance carried by
10      the State Workmen's Insurance Fund; providing penalties; and
11      repealing existing laws," in preliminary provisions,
12      providing for health care sharing ministries.
13      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
14   hereby enacts as follows:
15      Section 1.    The act of May 17, 1921 (P.L.682, No.284), known
16   as The Insurance Company Law of 1921, is amended by adding a
17   section to read:
18      Section 107.1.    Health Care Sharing Ministries.--A health
19   care sharing ministry, and the operation thereof, shall not be
20   considered an insurance company, health maintenance organization
21   or health benefit plan of any type in this Commonwealth subject
22   to the laws or regulations of this Commonwealth respecting
23   insurance companies, health maintenance organizations or health
 1   benefit plans of any type and shall not be subject to the
 2   jurisdiction of the Insurance Commissioner. The operation of a
 3   health care sharing ministry shall not constitute the
 4   transaction of insurance business and shall not be considered an
 5   unfair or deceptive act or practice in the conduct of trade or
 6   commerce prohibited by the laws of this Commonwealth. As used in
 7   this section, the term "health care sharing ministry" means a
 8   faith-based nonprofit organization:
 9      (1)   Whose members share a common set of similar and
10   sincerely held ethical or religious beliefs.
11      (2)   That shares medical expenses in accordance with a common
12   set of ethical or religious beliefs and allows members to retain
13   membership even after developing a medical condition.
14      (3)   That establishes amounts that any member may contribute
15   voluntarily for distribution by the organization to or for the
16   direct benefit of other members, with no assumption of risk or
17   promise to pay among the members or by the organization.
18      (4)   That facilitates, coordinates and administers the
19   sharing of medical expenses among members using funds
20   voluntarily and willingly contributed by members according to
21   criteria established by the organization.
22      (5)   That makes a monthly statement available to all members
23   that lists the total amount of qualified medical expense needs
24   submitted for sharing, as well as the amount actually paid
25   towards member medical expenses.
26      (6)   That provides for an annual audit by an independent
27   certified public accountant in accordance with generally
28   accepted accounting principles and makes the annual audit
29   available to the public upon request.
30      (7)   That includes on or with all membership applications,

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 1   member terms and conditions and sharing guidelines published or
 2   distributed by the organization a written disclaimer that reads,
 3   in substance:
 4      NOTICE. A Health Care Sharing Ministry (HCSM) is not an
 5      insurance company, financial assistance through its programs
 6      is not insurance, and this document is not an insurance
 7      policy or contract. Contributions for sharing are voluntary
 8      and neither the organization nor any member can be compelled
 9      by law to contribute toward your medical bills. Whether or
10      not you receive sharing assistance, or this organization
11      continues to operate, you are always personally responsible
12      for the payment of your own medical bills. This organization
13      and sharing program are not regulated by the Pennsylvania
14      Department of Insurance. You should review all sharing
15      guidelines carefully to understand any limitations that may
16      affect your personal medical and financial needs.
17      Section 2.   This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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