reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 176o - Health Insurance Consumer Protections › Section 24 - Internal Appeals Processes for Risk-Bearing Provider Organizations; Patient's Right to Third-Party Advocate; External Review Process

Section 24. (a) All risk-bearing provider organizations certified under chapter 176U shall create internal appeals processes. The appeals processes shall be available to the public in written format and, by request, in electronic format.
(b) The internal appeals processes in subsection (a) shall be completed in a period not longer than 14 days; provided, however, that an expedited internal appeal shall be completed in a period not longer that 3 days for a patient with an urgent medical need including, but not limited to, terminal illness or emergency situations, as defined through regulations by the office of patient protection. During the appeals process, the risk-bearing provider organization shall not: (i) prevent a patient from seeking medical opinions outside of that organization; or (ii) terminate any medical services being provided to the patient, including medical services which began prior to the appeal and are the subject of such appeal. The decision on the appeal shall be in writing and shall notify the patient of the right to file a further external appeal. The decision on the appeal shall prominently provide information on the patient's right to appeal the decision to the office of patient protection including, but not limited to: (i) contact information for the office of patient protection,; (ii) a notice of a patient's right to file a grievance with the office of patient protection; and (iii) information on how to file a grievance with the office of patient protection.
(c) Risk-bearing provider organizations shall inform any patient of the right to designate a third party to advocate on the patient's behalf during the appeals process including, but not limited to, a spouse or other family member, an attorney of record or a legal guardian. If the patient does not elect a person to serve as his or her advocate such provider organization shall offer to contact the office of patient protection and the office of patient protection may designate an ombudsman to advocate on the patient's behalf.
(d) The office of patient protection shall establish by regulation an external review process for the review of grievances submitted by or on behalf of patients of risk-bearing provider organizations. The process shall specify the maximum amount of time for the completion of a determination and review after a grievance is submitted and shall include the right to have benefits continued pending appeal. The office of patient protection shall establish expedited review procedures applicable to emergency and urgent care situations
(e) The office of patient protection shall promulgate regulations necessary to implement this section.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 176o - Health Insurance Consumer Protections › Section 25 - Use and Acceptance of Specifically Designated Prior Authorization Forms

Section 25. (a) A payer or any entity acting for a payer under contract, when requiring prior authorization for a health care service or benefit, shall use and accept only the prior authorization forms designated for the specific types of services and benefits developed under subsection (c).
(b) If a payer or any entity acting for a payer under contract fails to use or accept the required prior authorization form, or fails to respond within 2 business days after receiving a completed prior authorization request from a provider, pursuant to the submission of the prior authorization form developed as described in subsection (c), the prior authorization request shall be deemed to have been granted.
(c) The division shall develop and implement uniform prior authorization forms for different health care services and benefits. The forms shall cover such health care services and benefits including, but not limited to, provider office visits, prescription drug benefits, imaging and other diagnostic testing, laboratory testing and any other health care services. The division shall develop forms for different kinds of services as it deems necessary or appropriate; provided that, all payers and any entities acting for a payer under contract shall use the uniform form designated by the division for the specific type of service. Six months after the full set of forms has been developed, every provider shall use the appropriate uniform prior authorization form to request prior authorization for coverage of the health care service or benefit and every payer or any entity acting for a payer under contract shall accept the form as sufficient to request prior authorization for the health care service or benefit.
Nothing in this section shall prohibit a payer or any entity acting for a payer under contract from using a prior authorization methodology that utilizes an internet webpage, internet webpage portal, or similar electronic, internet, and web-based system in lieu of a paper form, provided that it is consistent with the paper form, developed pursuant to subsection (c).
(d) The prior authorization forms developed under subsection (c) shall:
(1) not exceed 2 pages;
(2) be made electronically available; and
(3) be capable of being electronically accepted by the payer after being completed.
(e) The division, in developing the forms, shall:
(1) seek input from interested stakeholders and shall seek to use forms that have been mutually agreed upon by payers and providers;
(2) ensure that the forms are consistent with existing prior authorization forms established by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; and
(3) consider other national standards pertaining to electronic prior authorization.
(f) Nothing in this section shall limit a health plan from requiring prior authorization for services.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 176o - Health Insurance Consumer Protections › Section 26 - Establishment of Standardized Processes and Procedures for the Determination of Patient's Health Benefit Plan Eligibility at or Prior to Time of Service

Section 26. The commissioner shall establish standardized processes and procedures applicable to all health care providers and payers for the determination of a patient's health benefit plan eligibility at or prior to the time of service. As part of such processes and procedures, the commissioner shall (i) require payers to implement automated approval systems such as decision support software in place of telephone approvals for specific types of services specified by the commissioner and (ii) require establishment of an electronic data exchange to allow providers to determine eligibility at or prior to the point of care.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 176o - Health Insurance Consumer Protections › Section 29 - Health Care Provider Credentialing

Section 29. (a) The bureau of managed care shall develop and implement standard credentialing forms for health care providers. A carrier, or any entity that manages or administers benefits for a carrier, shall accept the standard credentialing form for contracting providers as sufficient information necessary to conduct its credentialing process.
(b) The bureau shall promulgate regulations establishing uniform standards and methodologies for credentialing of health care providers. The regulations shall include, but not be limited to, requirements that, for conducting a credentialing review of a health care provider, a carrier, or any entity that manages or administers benefits for a carrier, shall: (i) use and accept only the credentialing forms designated by the commissioner; and (ii) review a submitted credentialing form for a health care provider and respond to the health care provider not more than 20 business days after receiving a completed credentialing request.
Nothing in this section shall prohibit a carrier, or any entity that manages or administers benefits for a carrier, from using a credentialing methodology that utilizes an internet webpage, internet webpage portal or similar electronic, internet and web-based system in lieu of a paper form; provided, however, that upon request, a carrier, or any entity that manages or administers benefits for a carrier, shall make a paper credentialing form available to a health care provider.
(c) A carrier, or an entity that manages or administers benefits for a carrier, that contracts with another entity to perform some or all of the functions governed by this chapter shall be responsible for ensuring that the contracted entity is in compliance with this chapter. The carrier shall be responsible to remedy a failure by the contracted entity to meet the requirements of this chapter and shall be subject to any related enforcement actions, including financial penalties, authorized under this chapter.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 176p - Limited Societies › Section 1 - Definitions

Section 1. In this chapter, the following words shall have the following meanings:—
''Commissioner'', the commissioner of insurance.
''Fraternal benefit society'', an incorporated society, order or supreme lodge, without capital stock, conducted solely for the benefit of its members and their beneficiaries, and not for profit, operated on a lodge system with a ritualistic form of work, having a representative form of government, and which makes provision for the payment of benefits in accordance with chapter 176. Fraternal benefit societies shall be governed by said chapter 176 and shall not be subject to this chapter.
''Limited society or society'', a domestic society or association that meets the requirements of section 45 or section 46 of chapter 176 as in full force and effect immediately preceding August 15, 1958 and codified in this chapter. Limited societies shall not include any society defined in section 1 of said chapter 176. Limited societies shall be governed by this chapter and shall not be subject to said chapter 176 as modified, amended or added after August 15, 1958.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 176p - Limited Societies › Section 2 - Lodge System

Section 2. A society shall be deemed to be operating on the lodge system when it has a supreme governing or legislative body, and subordinate lodges or branches, by whatever name known, to which members are elected, initiated and admitted in accordance with its constitution, by-laws, and prescribed ritualistic ceremonies, and the subordinate lodges or branches are required by the by-laws of such society to hold regular or stated meetings at least once in each month.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 176p - Limited Societies › Section 3 - Representative Government; Elections; Meetings; Record

Section 3. A society shall be deemed to have a representative form of government when it provides in its constitution and by-laws for a supreme legislative or governing body, composed of representatives elected either by the members or by delegates elected directly or indirectly by the members, together with such other members as may be prescribed by its constitution and by-laws if the elective members shall have not less than two-thirds of the votes nor less than the number of votes required to amend its constitution and by-laws, and if (a) the meetings of the supreme governing body and the election of officers, representatives or delegates shall be held as often as once in four years and (b) a complete stenographic record of the proceedings of each such meeting, so far as it relates to matters within the jurisdiction of the commissioner of insurance, shall be filed in the home office of the society within 30 days after the adjournment of such meeting. The constitution and by-laws of any such society may provide that the board of directors appoints a regularly ordained clergyman to act as chaplain, spiritual director or other religious officer, and may also provide that such appointee may serve ex officio as a member of the board of directors. The members, officers, representatives or delegates of a society shall not vote by proxy.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 176p - Limited Societies › Section 4 - Limitation of Membership

Section 4. A corporation which limits its membership to the members of a particular fraternal beneficiary corporation, fraternity or religious denomination, or to the graduates of a designated professional or vocational school, or to the employees or ex-employees of cities or towns or of the commonwealth or of the federal government, or to the employees or ex-employees of a designated firm, business house or corporation, or to persons of the same foreign extraction retaining common national interests and designation, and their respective husbands and wives, irrespective of racial extraction, or to persons of the same occupation, may be on the lodge system, and if not on the lodge system, shall be governed by a direct vote of its members without the lodge system. A corporation not so limiting its membership shall be on the lodge system, with a representative form of government, as defined in sections 2 and 3.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 176p - Limited Societies › Section 5 - Exemption From Certain Laws

Section 5. Societies shall be governed by this chapter, and shall be exempt from all other provisions of the insurance laws of the commonwealth except sections 16, 160A, 160B, 178 to 180, inclusive, and section 185 of chapter 175, not only in governmental relations with the commonwealth, but for every other purpose, and no law hereafter enacted shall apply to them unless they are expressly designated in such laws.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 176p - Limited Societies › Section 6 - Formation of Corporation; Purposes; Association Agreement

Section 6. Seven or more persons, residents of the commonwealth, may form a corporation for the purposes set forth in this chapter. The agreement of association shall state that the subscribers thereto associate themselves with the intentions of forming a corporation, the corporate name assumed, the purpose for which it is formed, and the city or town, which shall be in the commonwealth, in which it is established or situated. The name shall not so closely resemble the name of any corporation or insurance company already transacting business in the commonwealth so as to mislead the public or lead to confusion. Any lawful social, intellectual, education, charitable, benevolent, moral or religious advantages may be set forth among the purposes of the corporation. If the corporation limits its membership as provided in section 4, the agreement of association shall state the maximum amounts of benefits to be paid, and shall designate to which one of the classes mentioned in said section its membership is restricted.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 176p - Limited Societies › Section 7 - First Meeting; Notice; Adoption of By-Laws; Filing of Certificate

Section 7. (a) The first meeting of the associates shall be called by a notice, signed by one or more of the subscribers to the agreement, stating the time, place and purpose of the meeting. At least seven days before the day appointed for the meeting, a copy of the notice shall be given to each subscriber, or left at his usual place of business or place of residence, or deposited in the post office, postage prepaid, and addressed to the subscriber at the person's usual place of business or residence. Whoever gives such notice shall make an affidavit of his doings, which shall be recorded in the records of the corporation.
(b) At such first meeting, including any reasonable adjournment thereof, an organization shall be effected by the choice, by ballot, of a temporary clerk, who shall be sworn, and by the adoption of by-laws, and the election by ballot of directors, a president, a secretary and a treasurer, or other such officers, corresponding thereto, with powers and duties similar to those of such officers, and such other officers as the by-laws may provide. At such election no person shall be eligible as a director or other officer who has not subscribed to the agreement of association. The temporary clerk shall make and attest a record of the proceedings until the secretary has been chosen and sworn, including a record of such choice and qualification. The president, secretary and a majority of the directors, or other officers corresponding thereto, shall forthwith make, sign, and swear to a certificate of organization in duplicate, setting forth a true copy of the agreement with the names of the subscribers thereto, the date of the first meeting and of the successive adjournments thereof, if any.
(c) The certificate of organization and duly certified copy of the by-laws, and copies of all proposed forms of benefit certificates, applications therefore and literature to be issued by the corporation shall be filed with the commissioner, who may require such further information as he deems necessary. If the purposes and by-laws of the corporation conform to the requirements of this chapter and all its provisions have been complied with, the commissioner shall so certify, and place on file the agreement of association, one of the duplicate certificates of organization, and a copy of the by-laws approved by the commissioner.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 176p - Limited Societies › Section 9 - Certificate of Organization; Certificate Endorsed by Commissioner; Filing; Certification by State Secretary; Evidence of Corporate Existence

Section 9. The society shall file a certificate of organization, with the certificate endorsed by the commissioner, and if on the lodge plan, also the certificate required by the preceding section, with the state secretary, who, upon the receipt of $5, shall issue a certificate in a form approved by the state secretary.
The state secretary shall sign the name and cause the seal of the commonwealth to be affixed thereto, and the certificate shall be conclusive evidence of the existence of the corporation at the date of the certificate. He shall also cause a record of the certificate to be made, and a certified copy of the record may be given in evidence with like effect as the original.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 176p - Limited Societies › Section 10 - Certificate of Commissioner; Time Limitation; Certificate of Incorporation; Cessation of Business Operations

Section 10. If a society fails to secure its certificate of incorporation and to begin business within one year after the date of receiving the certificate of the commissioner, as provided in section 7, its agreement of association and all proceedings thereunder shall become null and void. If a domestic corporation subject to this chapter ceases to do business for the period of one year, its charter or certificate of incorporation shall become null and void.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 176p - Limited Societies › Section 11 - Limited Societies; Change of Location of Business; Change of Purpose of Corporation

Section 11. A limited society may, with the approval of the commissioner, change the location of its place of business to another location in the commonwealth, or change the purposes for which it was incorporated so as to permit it to transact any business authorized by this chapter. Upon such approval, the presiding financial and recording officers, and a majority of its other officers having the powers of directors, shall file with the state secretary a certificate, with the approval of the commissioner endorsed thereon, setting forth the change in the location of its place of business or in the purposes of the corporation. The state secretary shall, upon receipt of $5, cause such certificate to be filed in his office. Every domestic society may exercise all the rights, powers and privileges conferred by this chapter, including the powers specified in section 32, or its certificate of incorporation or charter, not inconsistent herewith, and shall be subject to this chapter, as if reincorporated hereunder.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 176p - Limited Societies › Section 12 - Mergers; Transfers; Notice; Contracts, Financial Statements and Certificates; Commissioner's Approval

Section 12. (a) No domestic society shall merge with or accept the transfer of the membership or funds of any other society, unless 90 days' notice of the proposed merger or transfer is given to the commissioner, who, within such period, shall make such recommendations to each of such societies. The merger or transfer shall be evidenced by a written contract that sets out in full the terms and conditions of the merger or transfer, and shall be filed with the commissioner, together with a sworn statement by the president and secretary, or corresponding officers, of each of such societies of their financial conditions and a sworn certificate of such officers of each of the contracting societies that the merger or transfer has been approved by a vote of two-thirds of the members of the supreme legislative or governing body of each of such societies.
(b) Upon the submission of the contract, financial statements and certificates, the commissioner shall examine them, and if the commissioner finds that the financial statements are correct, and that the contract is in conformity with this section, and that the merger or transfer is just and equitable to the members of each of the societies, the commissioner shall approve the merger or transfer, issue a certificate to that effect, and thereupon the contract of merger or transfer shall be of full force and effect. No such merger proposed by two societies not incorporated in the same state shall go into effect until approved by the commissioner, or corresponding officer, of each state incorporating the societies involved in the proposed transaction, nor until their joint certificate of approval of the contract therefore is issued.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 176p - Limited Societies › Section 13 - Death Funds; Emergency Funds; Disability Funds

Section 13. A society may create, maintain, invest, disburse and apply a death fund, any part of which may, in accordance with the by-laws of a society, be designated and set apart as an emergency, a surplus or other similar fund, and a disability fund and a hospitalization and medical service fund. Such funds shall be held, invested and disbursed for the use and benefit of the society, and no member or beneficiary shall have or acquire individual rights therein, or become entitled to any part thereof, except as provided in section 16, 17, or 19. The funds from which benefits shall be paid shall be derived and the fund from which the expenses of the society shall be defrayed may be derived from periodical or other payments by the members of the society and accretions of such funds. No society shall be incorporated, and no society not authorized on January 1, 1912 to do business in the commonwealth, shall be admitted to transact business therein, which does not provide for stated periodical contributions sufficient to meet the mortuary obligations contracted, when valued upon the basis of the National Fraternal Congress Table of Mortality as adopted by the National Fraternal Congress on August 23, 1899, or any higher standard, with interest assumption not more than 4 per cent per annum, except societies providing benefits for disability or death from accidents only.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 176p - Limited Societies › Section 13a - By-Laws; Creation of Independent Hospitalization and Medical Services Fund

Section 13A. A society, except one organized under section 46, whose rates and benefits are approved by the commissioner, may set up and provide under its by-laws a plan for the payment of hospital and medical expenses and for the services of surgeons, physicians and nurses, or for any one of these services or expenses, in connection with sickness, disease or accidents, or the results therefrom. The by-laws shall also provide that an independent hospitalization and medical service fund be created and maintained, with the accretions thereto, separate and apart from other funds of the society; that no benefits of any kind shall be paid until there is accumulated in the fund an amount not less than that received from three monthly contributions or one quarterly contribution, and that this amount shall be the minimum of surplus below which additional contributions from members shall be required; that there shall be included in the liabilities of the fund reserves for unearned assessments and unpaid claims; and that no benefits shall be paid on any claim for a period exceeding one year.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 176p - Limited Societies › Section 14 - By-Laws; Payments by Members; Provisions; Purpose of Payments; Proportion of Payments Which May Be Used for Expenses

Section 14. (a) Every provision of the by-laws of the society for payment by its members, in whatever form made, shall distinctly state the purposes of the same and the proportion thereof, which may be used for expenses. No part of the money collected for mortuary, disability, hospitalization, or medical service purposes or the net accretions of either or any of such funds shall be used for expenses. A society having admitted assets as shown by its annual statement filed with the commissioner, in excess of 105 per cent of its entire liabilities, including its required reserves, provided such reserves are at least equivalent to the amount required by the American Experience Table of Mortality with interest at 3 per cent per annum, may transfer or allocate such excess mortuary funds to the expense fund of the society, in accordance with its constitution and by-laws. The amount so transferred in any calendar year shall not exceed whichever is the smaller of (a) 75 per cent of the savings in mortality of the society during the preceding calendar year or (b) 10 per cent of the net mortuary assessments received by the society in the preceding calendar year, but no sum shall be transferred as aforesaid which reduces the actuarial solvency of said society below the aforesaid basis. Any sum thus transferred shall not exceed the incurred insurance expenses hereinafter specified during the preceding calendar year, and the sum shall be expended solely for the following insurance expenses of the society:—
(a) actuarial services;
(b) cost of preparing and mailing dividends;
(c) billing department costs;
(d) machine equipment;
(e) maintaining automatic loan records;
(f) certificates;
(g) actuarial records.
(b) The term ''net accretions'' shall mean all interest, dividends and other income less the reasonable expenses incident to the investment, care and maintenance of the securities and other assets of such funds.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 176p - Limited Societies › Section 15 - Deferred Payments; Installments of Claims; Fixed Liabilities on Happening of Contingency

Section 15. (a) Deferred payments or installments of claims shall be considered as fixed liabilities on the happening of the contingency upon which such payments or installments are thereafter to be paid. Such liability shall be the present value of such future payments or installments upon the rate of interest and mortality assumed by the society for establishing contributions and for valuation. A society shall at once, upon the filing of due proofs of the happening of the contingency, set apart a fund to meet such deferred payments, regardless of proposed future collections to meet any such payments, and hold such funds, with its interest accretions, in trust for the beneficiary entitled thereto.
(b) No society shall provide for such deferred payments or installments unless it possesses the full reserve specified in section 16, or if paying accident benefits only, has assets sufficient to pay all its liabilities.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 176p - Limited Societies › Section 16 - Loans to Members; Accumulating and Maintaining Tabular Reserve Required by Table of Mortality

Section 16. A society which shows by the annual valuation hereinafter provided for that it is accumulating and maintaining the tabular reserve required by a table of mortality not lower than the National Fraternal Congress Table of Mortality as adopted by the National Fraternal Congress on August 23, 1899, and 4 per cent interest, and which has provided for state periodical mortuary contributions based on said standard, or which shows that its stated periodical mortuary contributions for the five preceding years at rates at no time higher than those in use following said period, were sufficient to pay the actual claims and maintain the aforesaid reserve for said period without recourse to the reserves released by the lapsing of certificates, and without falling below said standard for any two consecutive years of said period, may grant to its members such extended or paid-up protection or such loans on any certificate of membership or such withdrawal equities as its constitution and by-laws may provide. Such grants shall be equitable, and shall in no case exceed in value the portion of the reserve derived from the payments of the individual member to whom they are made.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 176p - Limited Societies › Section 17 - Societies Maintaining Surplus of Assets at Required Level May Waive Collection of Regular Mortuary Contributions From Members

Section 17. Whenever it appears by a valuation certified to by a competent actuary that the actual assets of a society exceed its liabilities, including in such liabilities the tabular reserves computed on the basis specified in section 16, by an amount equal to 5 per cent of such reserves, increased by an amount equal to all its other mortuary liabilities, it may, by vote of its officers having the powers of directors, and for such period as its assets are maintained at the levels set forth in this section, waive the further collection of the regular mortuary contributions from its members. A society maintaining a surplus of assets in excess of such amount as enables it to waive contributions under this section may pay to its several members an equitable portion of such surplus in such manner as may be determined by vote of such officers.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 176p - Limited Societies › Section 18 - Investment of Funds

Section 18. A society shall invest its funds in securities permitted by chapter 175 for the investment of the capital of insurance companies, except that it may invest an amount not exceeding 10 per cent of its funds in the shares of federal savings and loan associations located in the commonwealth, and in addition, invest and deposit in paid-up shares and accounts of and in co-operative banks chartered by the commonwealth, and may deposit any of its funds in any savings bank or savings department of a trust company, chartered under the laws of the commonwealth. A foreign society permitted or seeking to do business in the commonwealth may invest its funds in accordance with the laws of the state where it is incorporated, but a part of such funds, not exceeding 20 per cent of its death fund, may be invested in a building for use and occupation by the society as its home office. A society having branches situated in the Dominion of Canada may invest a part of its death fund in the public funds of the Dominion of Canada, or of any province of the Dominion of Canada, not exceeding in the aggregate an amount equal to the sum of its collected premiums for the four months last past.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 176p - Limited Societies › Section 19 - Payment of Benefits for Disability on Account of Old Age; Periodical Member Contribution for Mortuary Purposes; Restrictions

Section 19. (a) Every society may provide for the payment of death benefits; may issue to its members, term, life, endowment and annuity certificates and combinations thereof; and may provide for the payment of benefits in case of temporary or permanent physical disability, either as the result of disease, accident or old age, and provide further for hospitalization and medical service, but the period of life at which the payment of benefits for disability on account of old age shall commence shall not be under 70 years of age. Such society may give a member, when permanently disabled, or on attaining the age of 70, all or such portion of the face value of his certificate as the by-laws of the society may provide. This chapter shall not prevent the issuing of benefit certificates, for a term of years less than the whole of life, which are payable upon the death or permanent disability of the member occurring within the term of which the benefit certificate is issued.
(b) Such society may, upon written application of a member, accept a part of the periodical contribution for mortuary purposes in cash and charge the remainder, not exceeding one-half of the periodical contribution, against the certificate, with interest payable or compounded annually at a rate not lower than 4 per cent per annum. This privilege shall not be exercised except by societies which have readjusted or may hereafter readjust their rates or contributions, and then only as to contracts affected by such readjustment. The yearly amount and the amount in the aggregate of such charges against the certificates of members, including interest charged, as cannot be collected on account of the lapsing of members against whose certificates such charges have been made, shall be stated in the records of the proceedings of the annual or other regular meetings of the society.
(c) Such society providing on January 1, 1912 for tombstones to the memory of deceased members may continue such provision, but not at an expense in excess of $100 for any member.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 176p - Limited Societies › Section 19a - Death Benefits Payable as Annuities

Section 19A. A society operating on the lodge system which provides for stated periodic contributions of its members based upon a table of mortality not lower than the National Fraternal Congress Table of Mortality, as adopted by the National Fraternal Congress on August 23, 1899, and 4 per cent interest, may provide that the amount of the death benefit payable by it shall be payable as an annuity. The annuity payments under this section shall be based upon a table not lower than ''McClintock's Table of Mortality among Annuitants'', or on such higher table as the commissioner may from time to time prescribe, with interest at not more than 4 per cent per annum. In no case shall the amount payable to the beneficiary or to the beneficiary's estate be less than the amount of the death benefit specified in the certificate issued to the member.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 176p - Limited Societies › Section 20 - Death Benefit Certificates

Section 20. A certificate issued by any society shall specify the amount of death benefit provided by it. The certificate, the charter of the articles of organization, or, if it is a voluntary association, the articles of association, the constitution and by-laws of the society, the application for membership, the medical examination, if any, signed by the applicant, and all amendments to each thereof, shall constitute the agreement between the society and the members. Copies of such documents, certified by the secretary of the society or corresponding officer, shall be received as evidence of the terms and conditions thereof. Any changes, additions or amendments to the charter, articles of incorporation, or articles of association, constitution or by-laws duly made or enacted subsequent to the issuance of a benefit certificate shall bind the member and his beneficiaries, and shall govern and control the agreement in all respects in the same manner as if such changes, additions or amendments had been made prior to and were in force at the time of the application for membership. The language in the preceding sentence shall be incorporated in substance in every benefit certificate hereafter issued.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 176p - Limited Societies › Section 21 - Death or Annuity Benefits; Beneficiaries Designated by Members

Section 21. Death or annuity benefits shall be payable to any beneficiary designated by the member, but the society may by its by-laws make restrictions as to whom may be beneficiaries. Each member shall have the right to change his beneficiary from time to time in accordance with the by-laws of the society. No beneficiary shall have or obtain any vested interest in such benefits until the same have become due and payable upon the death of the member. No contract under this chapter, except where an incorporated charitable institution or home is made a beneficiary in accordance with the by-laws of the society, shall be valid that is conditioned upon an agreement or understanding that the person to whom the death or annuity benefit is made payable shall pay the periodic or other contributions of the member.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 176p - Limited Societies › Section 22 - Funeral Expenses of Insureds

Section 22. A society may provide in its by-laws that a part of the amount payable as a death benefit may be used to pay the funeral expenses of the insured, but the amount so paid shall not exceed $300 and shall be deducted from the amount payable as a death benefit.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 176p - Limited Societies › Section 22a - Personal Representative or Family of Deceased; Freedom of Choice in Procuring Burial Supplies and Services

Section 22A. No society shall by its by-laws or by any contract or policy made or issued by it in the commonwealth restrict the payment of benefits or any part thereof accruing under such by-laws, contract or policy upon the death of a member or of the person insured, as the case may be, to a designated funeral director or group of funeral directors. No society shall in any way deprive the personal representative or family of the deceased of freedom of choice in procuring and purchasing supplies and services in connection with the burial of the deceased. Such benefits or any part thereof shall be paid to such funeral director as the person or persons entitled to such benefits or the personal representative of the deceased shall direct. Every limited society shall be subject to this section notwithstanding any special law to the contrary.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 176p - Limited Societies › Section 23 - Payment of Death, Endowment or Annuity Benefits Upon Lives of Children Less Than 18 Years of Age

Section 23. A society operating on the lodge system may provide in its constitution and by-laws, in addition to other benefits provided for therein, for the payment of death, endowment or annuity benefits upon the lives of children less than 18 years of age, and may loan upon the security of the value of certificates of such benefits a sum not exceeding the legal reserve which it is required to maintain thereon. Any such society may at its option organize and operate branches for such children, and membership in local lodges and initiation therein shall not be required for such children, nor shall they have any voice in the management of the society.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 176p - Limited Societies › Section 24 - Death Benefit Certificates as to Children

Section 24. No death benefit certificate as to any child shall be issued unless the society shall simultaneously put in force at least 500 such certificates, on each of which at least one assessment has been paid, and so long as the number of lives presented by such certificates does not fall below 500. A society that has so put in force at least 500 certificates on each of which at least one assessment has been paid may, during the year after first putting in force said number of certificates, continue to issue certificates notwithstanding withdrawals reducing the number of certificates in force to less than 500, if the number of such certificates does not remain below 500 for a period exceeding 90 days. The death benefit contributions to be made upon such certificate shall be based upon the Standard Industrial Mortality Table or the English Life Table Number Six, with a rate of interest not greater than 4 per cent per annum, or upon a higher standard. Contributions may be waived or returns may be made from any surplus held in excess of reserve and other liabilities, as provided in the by-laws, but extra contributions shall be made if the reserves provided for in the following section become impaired. Such society may grant to the holder of such a certificate extended or paid-up protection or such withdrawal equities as its constitution and by-laws may provide, but in no case to exceed in value the reserve held against the individual certificate.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 176p - Limited Societies › Section 25 - Funds Representing Benefit Contributions for Lives of Children Less Than 18 Years of Age

Section 25. A society entering into insurance agreements under section 23 shall maintain on all such contracts the reserve required by the standard of mortality and interest adopted by the society for computing contributions as provided in section 24. The funds representing the benefit contributions and all accretions thereto shall be kept as separate and distinct funds, independent of the other funds of the society, and shall not be liable for nor used for payment of the debts and obligations of the society other than the benefits authorized in sections 23 and 24. A society may provide that when a juvenile member reaches the minimum age for initiation into membership in such society, any benefit certificate issued under sections 23 to 28, inclusive, may be surrendered for cancellation and exchanged for any other form of certificate issued by the society. If it does not mature or expire prior to the attainment of such minimum age, any such benefit certificate may, notwithstanding any limitation in section 23, be continued in force, if in either case, such juvenile members shall present themselves for initiation as provided in the society's by-laws relative to the admission of adult members. All reserve accumulated under the certificate prior to the admission of any juvenile member to adult membership shall be transferred to the adult department to the credit of the transferring member. After the transfer of membership, the member shall have the sole right to designate a beneficiary, subject, however, to the by-laws of the society.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 176p - Limited Societies › Section 26 - Separation of Assets, Funds and Liabilities

Section 26. The separation of assets, funds and liabilities required by section 25 shall not be terminated, rescinded or modified, nor shall the funds be diverted for any use other than as specified in section 25, as long as any certificates issued under sections 23 to 28, inclusive, remain in force. This requirement shall be recognized and enforced in any liquidation, reinsurance, merger or other change in the condition or status of the society.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 176p - Limited Societies › Section 27 - Mingling of Certain Funds

Section 27. A society may provide in its by-laws and in the certificate issued under sections 23 to 28, inclusive, for specified payments on account of the expense or general fund, which may be mingled with the general fund of the society as its constitution and by-laws may provide.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 176p - Limited Societies › Section 28 - Actions by Beneficiaries

Section 28. In case of the termination of membership in the society by the person responsible for the support of any child on whose account a certificate has been issued under sections 23 to 28, inclusive, the certificate may be continued for the benefit of the estate of the child, or for the benefit of any other person responsible for the support and maintenance of such child if the contributions are continued.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 176p - Limited Societies › Section 30 - Exemption From Attachment or Execution

Section 30. Money or other benefit, charity, or relief or aid, to be paid, provided or rendered by any society, shall not be attached or taken upon execution or other process or by operation of law to pay any debt or liability of a member or beneficiary, or of any other person who may have a right thereunder, either before or after payment. This section shall not be applicable to any indebtedness charged against the member's certificate under the authority of section 16.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XXII - Corporations › Chapter 176p - Limited Societies › Section 31 - Admission of Persons to Beneficial Membership

Section 31. Except as provided in sections 23 to 28, inclusive, a society may admit to beneficial membership any person, not less than 16 and not more than 60 years of age, who has been examined by a legally qualified physician, if the examination has been supervised and approved in accordance with the by-laws of the society. A member of such society under 40 years of age who shall apply for a certificate providing for death benefits not exceeding the total sum of $500, and a member of such society who shall apply for a certificate providing for benefits on account of disability from sickness or injury, hospitalization, medical service or death by accident only, need not be required to pass a medical examination therefore. Such society may accept, without medical examination, for a face amount of life insurance not more than $3,000 on any one life, any person not more than 45 years of age who shall make acceptable declaration of the person's insurability. This section shall not prevent such society from accepting general or social members.