Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 176, § 15: Benefits other than insurance benefits

Section 15. A society may pay benefits, other than insurance benefits, to its members from any special account or fund maintained for such purpose; provided, that if such benefits are of such a nature that they could constitute benefits within the classes of insurance set forth in section seventeen, a society making such payments may not—

(a) Make any separate charge therefor;

(b) Issue any certificate, policy or other document promising such payments;

(c) Provide in its constitution, laws or any other document that such payments may be received by the member as a matter of right; or

(d) Advertise such payments as insurance or as payments to which the member has any right.

The society shall maintain a separate accounting of all disbursements made under this section and report them in its annual statement.