AmeriHealth Deferred Premium Program is available for fully insured group customers

Posted on April 14, 2020

See below from AmeriHealth

We have been closely monitoring the situation with COVID‑19 and we understand the financial impact our customers and members may be experiencing. We are committed to working with our customers to help them get through the crisis and are offering payment flexibility for the customers who are most in need.

Deferred Premium Program for fully insured group customers
While we encourage all customers who are able to pay their premiums on time to continue to do so, we understand the toll the COVID‑19 crisis is taking on many businesses. We want to help our mutual customers in need with the opportunity to take advantage of a Deferred Premium Program. Under this program, AmeriHealth New Jersey will make available to fully insured group customers an extended 60-day grace period, which can be applied to the April or May 2020 premium payment.

For customers who participate in the program, the deferred April or May 2020 premium payment from the extended 60‑day grace period must be paid by December 1, 2020. The deferred premium is payable in monthly installments beginning June 1 through December 1, 2020. Interested customers will be asked to sign a Deferred Premium Payment Agreement (“Program Agreement”), which sets out the terms of the extended 60‑day grace period for premium payments including payment requirements.

The key terms of this Deferred Premium Payment Program are:

  • Eligible customers include fully insured small group and large group customers.
  • To be eligible, a customer must be paid to date, including its March 2020 premium, if deferring the April premium payment or paid to date, including its April 2020 premium, if deferring the May premium payment.
  • Upon request, qualifying, fully insured customers will be given the opportunity to defer their April or May 2020 premium payment.
  • The customer must execute a Program Agreement with AmeriHealth New Jersey under which AmeriHealth New Jersey makes available an extended 60‑day grace period for the April or May 2020 premium payment and the customer agrees to pay for the deferred premium payment for the selected month by December 1, 2020.
  • Large Group Customers: For large group customers (51+) to be eligible for the Deferred Premium Program, the large group must provide an attestation signed by its senior financial officer or certified public accountant stating that it is experiencing a financial hardship caused by COVID‑19.
  • For customers electing to defer their April or May premium payment, the deferred premium payment must be paid in full by December 1, 2020. The deferred premium payment will need to be paid in monthly installments beginning June 1 through December 1, 2020.
  • Monthly premium payments and deferred premium installment payments for June through December 2020 must be paid on the respective due dates or the customer will enter delinquency and be subject to termination.

Please review this sample customer payment deferral scenario.

We are streamlining the Deferred Payment Program submission process through General Agents. We ask that you work with your General Agent to submit requests for customers looking to take advantage of this program.

Credit card payments
As we communicated last week, fully insured customers with fewer than 500 enrolled employees can make premium payments via credit cards from now through July 31, 2020. Credit card payments may be used to satisfy past due premiums as well as any current amounts that are due. AmeriHealth New Jersey accepts American Express, Discover, Visa, and MasterCard. We are also waiving any fees associated with credit card payments.

Customers can make credit card payments through the eBill functionality on the employer portal.

Policy for furloughed employees
Recently, we issued a Market Edge explaining our policy regarding furloughed employees.

Resources for businesses
There are many state, local, and federal loans, grants, and programs aimed at supporting small business during and after the COVID‑19 pandemic. For more information, visit the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce.

If you have any questions about the payment options available to your customers, please contact your AmeriHealth New Jersey broker representative.