The bill authorizes nonprofit agricultural organizations to provide health benefits to their members and their families under specific conditions, clarifying that these organizations are not classified as health insurance providers. Key provisions include the requirement that health benefits must be sponsored by a nonprofit agricultural organization, offered exclusively to members and their families, and not provided through a regulated insurance policy. The bill outlines essential health benefits, such as ambulatory patient services, hospitalization, emergency services, and mental health treatment, with a minimum coverage value of $2 million per year per enrollee. It also establishes a complaint system, mandates written notice to applicants regarding the non-regulated status of these benefits, and prohibits post-claim medical underwriting.
Additionally, the bill introduces a 1.3 percent tax on premiums collected by these organizations, which must be reported and paid biannually to the Department of Insurance. This tax is exclusive, preventing other taxes or licenses from being imposed by local governments, and the organizations will be exempt from income taxes under Chapter 18 of Title 40 of the Code of Alabama 1975. The Department of Insurance will manage the collected taxes, with a portion allocated for administrative costs, while the remaining funds will support the State General Fund. The act is set to take effect on June 1, 2025, with the Senate passage date marked as 01-May-25.