What kind of entity is NOT typically described as an insurer?

In the context of insurance regulations and definitions, a non-profit organization is not typically described as an insurer because its primary purpose is to serve a charitable, educational, or social mission rather than to provide insurance coverage or engage in risk management for profit.

Insurance entities like fraternal benefit societies, mutual insurance companies, and self-insured organizations are specifically organized to provide insurance products or cover risks, making them insurers under applicable laws. Fraternal benefit societies offer insurance benefits to their members, mutual insurance companies operate on a cooperative model to provide coverage to policyholders, and self-insured organizations set aside funds to cover their own liabilities instead of transferring the risk to a traditional insurer.

In contrast, a non-profit organization may run programs or initiatives that indirectly relate to risk or insurance but does not fall under the specific definition of an insurer because its focus lies on fulfilling its mission rather than on providing insurance services. This distinction is critical in understanding the regulatory landscape and the classifications of entities within the insurance industry.