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ABF Membership Terms and Conditions
Last Updated: May 12, 2026
Welcome to the American Business First Association (ABF). By applying for membership, paying dues, or accessing our services and affiliated benefit programs, you (the "Member" or "Employee") agree to be bound by the following Terms and Conditions.
1. Membership Eligibility & Acceptance
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Eligibility: Membership is available to individuals, independent contractors, small business owners, and corporate entities that support the mission of American business growth and professional excellence.
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Approval: ABF reserves the right to deny or revoke membership to any applicant at its sole discretion if it determines the applicant’s business practices or values do not align with the Association’s standards.
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Enrollment into the association is entirely voluntary to the individual, group, and or business. By choosing to join, you acknowledge that certain information may be shared with our third-party affinity partners (such as health insurance brokers or legal service providers) to facilitate your access to association benefits.
2. Dues, Payments, and Renewals
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Fees: Membership dues are set by the Association and are subject to change with 30 days’ notice.
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Auto-Renewal: Unless otherwise specified at enrollment, memberships are set to auto-renew monthly.
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Refund Policy: Dues are considered fully earned upon payment and are non-refundable, except in cases where a membership application is denied.
3. Data Privacy and Affinity Partnerships
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Referral Services: By joining, you acknowledge that ABF may share your business contact information with vetted third-party "Affinity Partners" to facilitate professional referrals.
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Association Royalties: ABF may receive compensation in the form of royalties, commissions, or administrative fees from these Affinity Partners when members utilize their services.
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Data Security: ABF employs industry-standard security measures to protect your data and does not sell member lists to third-party data brokers unaffiliated with our member benefit programs.
4. Communication & Marketing (TCPA Compliance)
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Email: You consent to receive administrative and promotional emails from ABF. You may opt out of promotional content at any time.
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Text & Voice: If you provided a mobile number during enrollment, you grant ABF express written consent to contact you via SMS/Text or voice calls for membership alerts, event reminders, or marketing. You may revoke consent for SMS by replying "STOP" at any time.
5. Integrated Benefit Definitions
The following definitions apply specifically to members enrolled in ABF-sponsored or affiliated insurance and disability programs:
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Accident / Accidental: An external event that an average person would consider sudden and unforeseeable, and is independent of any illness, disease, or other bodily malfunction.
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Actively at Work: You perform all the regular duties of your job for a full work day at your Employer's normal place of business, an approved site, or at your home if you can perform all regular duties there.
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Activities of Daily Living: Includes bathing, continence, dressing, eating, toileting, and transferring.
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Coma: A confirmed diagnosis of a state of unconsciousness with no reaction to external stimuli or response to internal needs for a continuous period of at least 31 days.
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Confined / Confinement: Confined to a Hospital or similar facility.
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Continuing Care: Visiting a Physician whose medical specialty is the most appropriate to evaluate, manage, or treat your condition, receiving care as frequently as Medically Necessary.
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Dependent Child: Your unmarried child from live birth to under age 26, including step-children, foster children, or adopted children.
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Disability / Disabled: You are unable to perform all (or one or more) of the Material and Substantial Duties of your Regular Occupation, resulting in an earnings loss.
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Employee: A person employed by the Employer within the United States, a U.S. citizen or resident, scheduled to work at least the minimum hours required, and paid regular earnings (including IRS 1099 contractors).
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Family Member: Your Spouse, civil union partner, or domestic partner, and specific relatives (parents, grandparents, children, siblings, aunts/uncles, cousins, nieces/nephews) including adopted, in-law, and step-relatives.
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Hospital: A licensed facility providing medical care and Treatment on an inpatient basis with 24-hour nursing service supervised by a Physician.
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Intoxicated: Under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs, or unprescribed prescription drugs, or at/above the minimum blood alcohol level for operating a motorized vehicle in that jurisdiction.
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Layoff / Leave of Absence: Temporarily not Actively at Work for a period of time agreed to in Writing by your Employer (normal vacation time is excluded).
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Pre-existing Condition: During the 3 months prior to your effective date, you sought medical Treatment, consultation, advice, care, or took prescribed drugs/medicines for the condition or its symptoms.
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Spouse: A party to a marriage recognized as a spouse or civil union partner under state, federal, or provincial law, or a domestic partner.
6. Eligibility, Effective Dates, and Termination of Insurance Benefits through Membership
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Eligibility: You are initially eligible for insurance on the latest of the policy effective date, the first day of the month following the end of your Eligibility Waiting Period, or the date you first are Actively at Work in an Eligible Class.
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Enrollment: You must enroll within the specified timeframe of your initial eligibility (typically 31 to 90 days, depending on the specific benefit); otherwise, you will be considered a Late Entrant and may have to wait until the next Enrollment Period or a Family Status Change.
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Effective Date: Contributory insurance starts on the later of the date you are eligible, the date you enroll and agree to make required contributions, or the date you are Actively at Work.
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Termination: Insurance ends on the earliest of:
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The date the Policy terminates.
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The last day for which any required premium was paid.
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The date you request in Writing to cancel.
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The date you die.
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The date you are no longer in an Eligible Class.
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The date you enter active duty in any armed service.
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The date you retire.
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The last day you are actively at Work (subject to continuation provisions).
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Reinstatement: If insurance ends voluntarily or for reasons other than termination of the policy, you may apply to reinstate within 12 months, effective upon returning to Actively at Work status and agreeing to premium contributions.
7. Eligibility, Effective Dates, and Termination of Spouse Insurance
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Eligibility: You are initially eligible for Spouse Insurance on the latest of the policy effective date, the date you are eligible for Insurance through membership of the association, or the date you acquire a Spouse.
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Enrollment: You must enroll your spouse within 90 days of initial eligibility to avoid Late Entrant status.
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Effective Date: Spouse insurance starts on the latest of your eligibility date, your enrollment date, or when you are actively at Work, provided your Spouse is not confined on that date. If your Spouse is confined, coverage will not start until they are no longer confined.
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Termination: Spouse Insurance ends on the earliest of:
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The date the Policy terminates or premiums are unpaid.
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Written cancellation by the Employee.
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Maximum benefit payouts are reached.
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The date the Employee or Spouse dies.
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The date the Employee leaves the Eligible Class or retires.
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The last day of the month the Spouse no longer meets the definition of a Spouse (e.g., divorce).
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The date the Spouse enters active duty in any armed service.
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8. Eligibility, Effective Dates, and Termination of Dependent Children Insurance
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Eligibility: You are initially eligible for Dependent Children Insurance on the latest of the policy effective date, the date you are eligible for Insurance through Membership, or the date you acquire Dependent Children.
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Enrollment: You must enroll within 90 days of initial eligibility to avoid Late Entrant status. Newborns, newly placed foster children, or newly adopted children are automatically covered for 60 days, after which formal enrollment and premium payment are required to continue coverage.
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Effective Date: Insurance starts on the latest of your eligibility date, your enrollment date, or when you are actively at Work, provided the Dependent Child is not confined. (The Confinement rule does not apply to a newborn or newly adopted child.
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Termination: Dependent Children Insurance ends on the earliest of:
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The date the Policy terminates or premiums are unpaid.
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Written cancellation by the Employee.
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Maximum benefit payouts are reached.
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The date the Employee or Dependent Child dies.
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The date the Employee leaves the Eligible Class or retires.
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The last day of the month the child no longer meets the definition of a Dependent Child.
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The date the child enters active duty in any armed service.
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9. Eligible Classes for Insurance Benefits
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Critical Illness Insurance: All Members who are Independent Contractors or Employees working in the United States who are scheduled to work at least 20 hours per week, and who are in good standing with ABF.
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Basic Long Term Disability: All Members who are Independent Contractors or Employees of an Employer working in the United States, scheduled to work at least 17.5 hours per week, and who are in good standing with ABF.
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Basic Short Term Disability: All Members who are Independent Contractors or Employees of an Employer working in the United States, scheduled to work at least 17.5 hours per week, and who are in good standing with ABF.
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Voluntary Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D): * All Full-Time Employees working in the United States scheduled to work at least 17.5 hours per week.
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All Staff Employees and all Members who are Independent Contractors of an Employer working in the United States, scheduled to work at least 17.5 hours per week, who are in good standing with ABF.
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Voluntary Life and Voluntary Long Term Disability: All Full-Time Independent Contractors or Employees of Employer working in the United States, who are members in good standing with ABF and who are scheduled to work at least 17.5 hours per week.
10. Third-Party Agreements and Benefit Disclaimers
American Business First may offer access to voluntary benefits, affinity partnerships, and other services provided by independent third parties. Please be advised that:
Separate Agreements: If you choose to enroll in or utilize any of these third-party benefits or services, you may be required to enter into separate contracts, enrollment agreements, or terms of service directly with those third-party providers.
No Liability: American Business First is not a party to those third-party agreements and is not responsible or liable for any terms, conditions, representations, or warranties made by these external partners.
Assumption of Risk: Any agreement you make or accept with a third-party benefit provider is solely between you and that provider. American Business First explicitly disclaims any liability for the quality of services rendered, denial of claims, or any disputes that may arise from your relationship with these third-party partners.
Access to benefits is exclusively available through membership in American Business First, which replaces and supersedes membership in any other association that provides benefits.
In the Event of Dispute & Legal Provisions
1. Disclaimers: American Business First and its third-party payment processors will make commercially reasonable efforts to ensure your payments are processed correctly and timely. However, American Business First disclaims any liability for overdraft fees, over-the-limit fees, or any other bank or credit card charges that result from the automated processing of your authorized payments. American Business First provides this automated billing service "as is" and disclaims all warranties, express or implied, regarding the payment processing system.
2. Governing Law and Venue In the event of a dispute arising out of or relating to this billing authorization, this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Missouri, without regard to its conflict of law principles. Any legal action or proceeding arising under this Agreement shall be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Jackson County, Missouri, at Independence for any Agreement, and that such venue will be the sole and exclusive venue for any and all lawsuits or disputes arising out of this Agreement.
3. Binding Effect This authorization and agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Member, American Business First, and their respective successors, permitted assigns, heirs, and legal representatives. You may not assign your obligations under this billing authorization to another party without prior written consent from American Business First.
4. Notices Any formal notices, requests, or demands regarding a billing dispute or the revocation of this authorization must be made in writing. Notices to American Business First should be sent via certified mail, return receipt requested, to 332 SE Douglas, Lee’s Summit, Missouri 64063 or via verified email to admin@americanbsuiness. Notices to the Member will be sent to the email or physical address provided in Section I of this form.
5. Complete Agreement This Recurring Payment Authorization Form, together with the American Business First Membership Terms and Conditions, constitutes the complete and entire agreement between the parties specifically pertaining to the automated billing of membership dues and/or additional voluntary benefits. It supersedes all prior or contemporaneous oral or written agreements, understandings, or representations regarding this specific subject matter.
6. Miscellaneous
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Severability: If any provision of this billing authorization is held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
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Waiver: The failure of American Business First to strictly enforce any provision of this agreement shall not constitute a waiver of its right to enforce such provision or any other provision subsequently.