Anthem, Kaiser Extend Premium Payment Deadlines Amid Delays
Anthem Blue Cross and Kaiser Permanente have extended their deadlines for Covered California enrollees to pay their first month's premiums after many consumers reported delays in receiving coverage confirmation or premium invoices, the Sacramento Bee's "Capitol Alert" reports.
However, Covered California said the payment deadline for other insurers participating in the exchange will remain midnight on Wednesday (Cadelago, "Capitol Alert," Sacramento Bee, 1/14).
Background
Earlier this month, Covered California extended until Jan. 15 the deadline for consumers to pay their first month's premium through the exchange. By the end of last month, about 400,000 individuals signed up for health coverage through Covered California, overwhelming the exchange's website and call centers.
The exchange's 11 participating health insurers agreed to extend the payment deadline to Jan. 15 to make it easier for individuals to pay their first round of premiums (California Healthline, 1/6).
Jan. 15 is also the deadline for individuals to enroll in coverage through the exchange that begins Feb. 1.
Details of Anthem, Kaiser Extensions
On Tuesday, Anthem said it will extend its payment deadline to Jan. 31 for consumers who purchased coverage that began Jan. 1.
In addition, Kaiser said it will extend its payment deadline by one week, to Jan. 22.
Chris Stenrud, a Kaiser spokesperson, said the company decided to extend the deadline in order to give consumers more time to receive and pay their invoices.
Meanwhile, Blue Shield of California spokesperson Steve Shivinsky said the insurer opted not to extend its payment deadline because most of its enrollees have already paid their first month's premium (Cadelago, Sacramento Bee, 1/15).
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