Sec. 201.

(1) A health care corporation shall not be incorporated in this state except under this act.

(2) Not less than 7 persons, all of whom shall be residents of this state, may form a health care corporation under this act for the purpose of providing 1 or more health care benefits at the expense of the corporation to persons or groups of persons who become subscribers to the plan, under certificates which will entitle each subscriber to certain health care services by providers with which the corporation has contracted for that purpose.

(3) A certificate shall not provide for the payment of cash or any other material benefit to a subscriber or the estate of a subscriber on account of death, illness, or injury except where payment is made to a subscriber for health care services by a provider who has not entered into a participating contract with the corporation or to reimburse a subscriber who has made, or is obligated to make, payment directly to a provider.

(4) A health care corporation shall not be subject to the laws of this state with respect to insurance corporations, except as provided in this act. A health care corporation shall not be subject to the laws of this state with respect to corporations generally.

(5) A health care corporation subject to this act is declared to be a charitable and benevolent institution, and its funds and property shall be exempt from taxation by this state or any political subdivision of this state.

(6) A person shall not act as a health care corporation or issue a certificate except as authorized by and pursuant to a certificate of authority granted to the person by the commissioner pursuant to this act.

(7) A health care corporation shall provide only the kinds of health care benefits and certificates authorized by this act. A health care corporation shall not make or issue a certificate relative to health care benefits except as approved or otherwise authorized under this act.

History: 1980, Act 350, Eff. Apr. 3, 1981 Popular Name: Blue Cross-Blue ShieldPopular Name: Act 350