626.838 Unlawful payment or sharing of commissions.

626.838 Unlawful payment or sharing of commissions.

   (1) No health insurer or licensed health agent shall pay directly or indirectly any commission or other valuable consideration to any person for services as a health insurance agent within this state, unless such person holds a currently valid license and appointment to act as a health insurance agent as required by the laws of this state; except that a health insurer may pay such commission or other valuable consideration to, and a licensed and appointed health insurance agent may share any commission or other valuable consideration with, an incorporated insurance agency in which all employees, stockholders, directors, or officers who solicit, negotiate, or effectuate health insurance contracts are qualified health insurance agents holding currently valid licenses and appointments.

   (2) No person other than a licensed and appointed health agent shall accept any such commission or other valuable consideration, except as provided in subsection (1).

   (3) This section shall not prevent the payment or receipt of renewal or other deferred commissions or pensions to or by any person solely because such person has ceased to hold a license or appointment to act as a health insurance agent and shall not prevent the payment of renewal or other deferred commissions to any incorporated insurance agency solely because any of its stockholders has ceased to hold a license or appointment to act as a health insurance agent.

History. s. 313, ch. 59-205; s. 2, ch. 63-381; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 1, ch. 77-457; s. 3, ch. 81-282; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; ss. 269(1st), 271, 807, 810, ch. 82-243; ss. 116, 206, 207, ch. 90-363; s. 4, ch. 91-429.