CareFirst
Premium
To reduce financial impact and ensure continuity of care during this crisis,
customers can request to defer up to two months of premium with no interest or penalty.
The deferred premium would be satisfied over time through scheduled periodic payments.
CareFirst will also be relaxing requirements around eligibility and waiting periods.
Employers
who are experiencing difficulties with premium payments should contact their CareFirst account representative or broker.
Individuals
who are experiencing difficulties with payment can apply for assistance on the CareFirst website starting next week.
A press release about the deferral option will be distributed.
As a result, it’s likely you will experience increased call volumes from your CareFirst customers.
Eligibility and Waiting Periods
Furloughed or laid-off employees CAN stay on the plan, expectation that premium payments continue to be made.
New hire and re-hire wait periods will NOT apply. Employees can enroll or re-enroll on a date determined by the group or plan administrator.
CareFirst will allow those who are uninsured to enroll at this time. Existing members can change their current benefit plan election only for a qualifying life event.
Kaiser Permanente
UnitedHealthcare
DC Health Link
Furlough questions and answers from DCHL
- What if an employee is receiving less hours and is now PT can the group still pay for their coverage? DCHL is not barring PT coverage if employee hours have decreased. If the group wants to continue to pay for coverage, they can.
- What about the fact, that UHC, Anthem, KP have all opened SEPs, for employer groups, it just won’t apply if they are in DC? DCHL is still working on operationalizing this.
- Can dependents come into the plan without a qualifying event? No, they still must have a qualifying event.
- If a group lays off employees, are they still able to keep their group open and continue paying for the laid off employees’ coverage? If they continue to pay, they will continue to view them as a valid group.
Webform request for financial relief, SEP, and new group information
- A webform is the first step if a group wishes to negotiate relief. The request must be logged and noted in order to receive relief
- That relief would be negotiated per each individual group
- COVID-19 landing page has important information regarding information on the carriers coverage as well as links to virtual visits
- There is a FAQ regarding enrolling into Health coverage for individuals
- SEP is only for individual market and they are reviewing extension for employees but for now unless there is a life event they are not extending the SEP for groups employees or dependents
- It is taking longer to set up new groups with carriers due to the crisis
