Blue Shield of California
Change in payment option due date for off-exchange members
As of January 1, 2018, Blue Shield no longer offers the option to make a payment on the 15th of the month. This change will affect some of your plan members during open enrollment.
As we previously reported, new off-exchange enrollees into individual and family plans in California will not have the 15th of the month payment option in their enrollment materials. In addition, the automatic payment option through Easy$PaySM will be temporarily unavailable until later in 2018.
Post-ACA Blue Shield members who currently make payments on the 15th of the month will be moved to a 1st of the month payment date starting January 1, 2018. A majority of those members are currently on Easy$Pay (see letter #1 below). Current members need to take appropriate action to keep their accounts current.
We are beginning to send notification letters to your Blue Shield clients who will be affected by this change.
Member Letter 1
IMPORTANT UPDATES
- Easy$Pay SM will stop after your November payment. You will need to make future payments via one-time online payment, check, or phone.
- Beginning January 2018, your monthly payment will be due on the 1st of the month. Payment on the 15th of the month will no longer be an option.
- In December, your bill will be lower than usual. You will only be paying for the last two weeks of the year, rather than a full month of coverage.
ACTION REQUIRED:
1. Make your December payment by December 15, 2017, via one-time online payment, check, or phone.
2. Make your January payment by January 1, 2018, with your new 2018 rate.
3. Make all 2018 payments by the 1st of the month. The 15th will no longer be an option.
What you need to know about your December payment:
After your November payment, your automatic payments through Easy$PaySM will stop.
- Easy$Pay will be unavailable for several months.
- You will receive a paper bill in the mail and will need to make your payments via one-time online payment, check, or phone.
- We will notify you when you are able to re-enroll in Easy$Pay.
In December, your bill will be lower than usual.
- You will only be paying for the last two weeks of the year, rather than a full month of coverage. The adjustment will appear on your statement.
Beginning in December, you must make your payments in one of three ways - One-time online payment: www.blueshieldca.com/ “Billing and payments” tab
- Check: Blue Shield of California
PO Box 60514
City of Industry, California 91716
- Phone: Please call the phone number on the back of your member ID card.
Frequently Ask Question Regarding the Blue Shield Mid-Month Billing Change
Why is Blue Shield changing my payment date?
- As part of our ongoing commitment to deliver service worthy of our family and friends, Blue Shield of California is upgrading its online payment system.
- This upgrade will impact how and when you make your monthly payments.
When is my monthly payment due?
- Beginning January 1, 2018, your monthly payment will be due by the 1st of the month.
- In 2018, making a payment on the 15th of the month will no longer be an option.
How will this impact my December bill?
- Your December payment is still due December 15, 2017. (If you use Easy$Pay, see important changes below).
- Your December bill will be lower than usual because you will only be paying for the last two weeks of the year, rather than a full month of coverage.
- The adjustment will appear on your statement.
How will this impact my January bill?
- Your January payment is due by January 1, 2018.
- Your January bill will reflect your new 2018 rates.
- Your payment will be due by the 1st of the month for the remainder of 2018.
What if I pay with Bill Pay through my bank or financial institution?
- Between now and December 31, please update your Bill Pay schedule with your bank or financial institution to reflect the new 1st of the month due date and your new 2018 rate.
- Please note that your December bill will be lower than usual because you will only be paying for the last two weeks of the year, rather than a full month of coverage.
- The adjustment will appear on your statement.
What if I use Easy$PaySM?
After your November payment, your automatic payments through Easy$Pay will stop.
- Easy$Pay will be unavailable for several months until the upgrade is complete.
- During this time, you will receive a paper bill in the mail indicating the amount due and you will need to make your payments using one of the three options listed below.
- We will notify you when you are able to re-enroll in Easy$Pay.
What are my payment options?
- You can make your payments in one of three ways:
- One-time online payment: www.blueshieldca.com/ “Billing and payments” tab
- Check: Blue Shield of California
PO Box 60514
City of Industry, California 91716
- Phone: Please call the phone number on the back of your member ID card.
