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Florida Statute 627.638 - Full Text and Legal Analysis Florida Statute 627.638 | Lawyer Caselaw & Research
Fla. Stat. § 627.638 (2026) Copy Cite Official Site Syfertize CourtListener Amendments
627.638 Direct payment for hospital, medical services.
(1) Any health insurance policy insuring against loss or expense due to hospital confinement or to medical and related services may provide for payment of benefits directly to any recognized hospital, licensed ambulance provider, doctor, or other person who provided the services, in accordance with the provisions of the policy. To comply with this section, the words “or to the hospital, licensed ambulance provider, doctor, or person rendering services covered by this policy,” or similar words appropriate to the terms of the policy, shall be added to applicable provisions of the policy.
(2) Whenever, in any health insurance claim form, an insured specifically authorizes payment of benefits directly to any recognized hospital, licensed ambulance provider, physician, dentist, or other person who provided the services in accordance with the provisions of the policy, the insurer shall make such payment to the designated provider of such services. The insurance contract may not prohibit, and claims forms must provide an option for, the payment of benefits directly to a licensed hospital, licensed ambulance provider, physician, dentist, or other person who provided the services in accordance with the provisions of the policy for care provided. The insurer may require written attestation of assignment of benefits. Payment to the provider from the insurer may not be more than the amount that the insurer would otherwise have paid without the assignment.
(3) Any insurer who has contracted with a preferred provider, as defined in s. 627.6471(1)(b), for the delivery of health care services to its insureds shall make payments directly to the preferred provider for such services.
History.s. 581, ch. 59-205; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 1, ch. 77-457; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; ss. 487, 497, 809(2nd), ch. 82-243; s. 79, ch. 82-386; s. 1, ch. 85-160; s. 114, ch. 92-318; s. 4, ch. 2005-231; s. 2, ch. 2008-212; ss. 1, 2, ch. 2009-124.

Cases Citing F.S. 627.638

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·Abraham K. Kohl, Dc v. Blue Cross, 955 So. 2d 1140 (Fla. 4th DCA 2007).

Cited 4 times | Published | Florida 4th District Court of Appeal | 2007 WL 837176

...3d DCA 1977) (holding that silence as to assignability creates ambiguity that must be resolved in favor of the insured.) Significantly, Florida statutes authorize prohibitions on assignment of both health insurance benefits and health insurance contracts. See § 627.638(2), Fla....
0 red0 yellow3 green0 procedural
Cited as authority(citing case) (2016)
phrase: "rule_authority"
Cited as authority(citing case) (2015)
phrase: "rule_authority"
Cited as authorityCastellanos (2012)
phrase: "rule_authority"
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·Sec. First Ins. Co. v. State, Off. of Ins. Reg., 177 So. 3d 627 (Fla. 1st DCA 2015).

Cited 2 times | Published | Florida 1st District Court of Appeal | 2015 Fla. App. LEXIS 9445, 2015 WL 3824166

...e services through lower-cost provider networks; it was good public policy as reflected in “Florida statutes [that] authorize prohibitions on assignment of both health insurance benefits and health insurance contracts.” 955 So.2d at 1143 (citing § 627.638(2), Fla....
0 red0 yellow6 green0 procedural
Cited as authority(citing case) (2024)
phrase: "rule_authority"
Cited as authoritySabran (2021)
phrase: "rule_authority"
Cited as authority(citing case) (2018)
phrase: "rule_authority"
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·Pennsylvania Blue Shield v. Wolfe, 575 So. 2d 1361 (Fla. 3d DCA 1991).

Cited 1 times | Published | Florida 3rd District Court of Appeal | 1991 Fla. App. LEXIS 2101, 1991 WL 31819

...The evidence established a right of recovery under either theory advanced by plaintiff. See Crown Life Insurance Co. v. McBride, 517 So.2d 660 (Fla.1987); Appalachian, Inc. v. Olson, 468 So.2d 266 (Fla. 2d DCA), review denied, 482 So.2d 347 (Fla.1985); § 627.638, Fla.Stat....
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Cited as authority(citing case) (1992)
phrase: "rule_authority"

This Florida statute resource is curated by an Orange Park personal injury and workers' comp lawyer, a Jacksonville, Florida personal injury and workers' compensation attorney (Florida Bar No. 39104). Attorney Syfert regularly handles Chapter 627 matters in the context of insurance coverage law and represents clients throughout Northeast Florida. For legal consultation, call 904-383-7448.