Attorney's Note

Under the Florida Statutes, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
Felony of the third degreeup to 5 yearsup to $5,000
misdemeanor of the second degreeup to 60 daysup to $500
misdemeanor of the first degreeup to 1 yearup to $1,000
For details, see Fla. Stat. § 775.082(3)(e), Fla. Stat. § 775.082(4)(b) and Fla. Stat. § 775.082(4)(a)

Terms Used In Florida Statutes 641.37

  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Entity: means any legal entity with continuing existence, including, but not limited to, a corporation, association, trust, or partnership. See Florida Statutes 641.19
  • Health maintenance organization: means any organization authorized under this part which:
    (a) Provides, through arrangements with other persons, emergency care, inpatient hospital services, physician care including care provided by physicians licensed under chapters 458, 459, 460, and 461, ambulatory diagnostic treatment, and preventive health care services. See Florida Statutes 641.19
  • person: includes individuals, children, firms, associations, joint adventures, partnerships, estates, trusts, business trusts, syndicates, fiduciaries, corporations, and all other groups or combinations. See Florida Statutes 1.01

(1) Any person or entity which knowingly renews, issues, or delivers any health maintenance contract without first obtaining and thereafter maintaining a certificate of authority is guilty of a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
(2) Except as provided in subsection (1), any person, entity, or health maintenance organization which knowingly violates the provisions of this part is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
(3) Any agent or representative, examining physician, applicant, or other person who knowingly makes any false and fraudulent statements or representation in, or with reference to, any application or negotiation for health maintenance organization coverage is, in addition to any other penalty provided by law, guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
(4) Any agent, representative, collector, or other person who, while acting on behalf of a health maintenance organization, receives or collects its funds or premium payments and fails to satisfactorily account for or turn over, when required, all such funds or payments is, in addition to the other penalties provided for by law, guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
(5) Any person who, without authority granted by a health maintenance organization, collects or secures cash advances, premium payments, or other funds owing to the health maintenance organization or otherwise conducts the business of a health maintenance organization without its authority is, in addition to the other penalties provided for by law, guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.