Nine Additional Days to Make Payment

Covered California’s eleven health insurance companies unanimously agreed Saturday to extend the deadline for consumers to submit payment for their first month’s premium.

Consumers now have until Jan. 15, 2014 to make payment to the companies. The nine additional days will ease feelings consumers may have of being rushed to pay the invoices they recently received.

The extension also assures health insurance companies time to mail the invoices and for consumers to have received the documents. Payment for coverage taking effect Jan. 1 must be in the hands of the health insurance companies by Jan. 15 and not simply postmarked or in-transit.

Meanwhile, about 200,000 households with coverage due to take effect Jan. 1, and who supplied their email addresses to Covered California, will receive direct notification about the payment deadline extension. Consumers can also visit www.CoveredCA.com  for instructions on how to pay their premium.

Health insurance companies stress that this is a one-time payment deadline extension, and that payment for coverage is due at the beginning of each month.

Exclusive video interview with Covered California