Mark Ganz, president and CEO of Cambia Health Solutions, and incoming board chair for America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), applauds today's AHIP announcement that health plans are voluntarily extending the deadline for consumers to pay their first month's premium to January 10, 2014.
"Giving people extra time to pay their first month's premium is the right thing to do for our members who are justifiably anxious and confused by problems in the state and federal health care exchanges," Ganz said. "We hope that in some small way this helps alleviate a burden during this holiday season and provides consumers who purchase their own insurance some peace of mind."
Cambia Health Solutions will continue to work closely with exchange partners to establish specific new timelines for payment. Under current rules and guidance, consumers who purchase a plan through the new state and federal marketplaces for coverage effective January 1, must select a plan by December 23 and pay the first month's premium by December 31. Extending the premium payment deadlines will help protect consumers from potential gaps in coverage.
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