Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: Premium Grace Period Extensions for Select Individual Members

As the public health response to COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus, continues to evolve, we plan to keep you informed of any related temporary changes in our policies, procedures and practices.

For our brokers in Washington State:

Effective immediately, Health Alliance Northwest will temporarily extend the grace period from 31 to 60 days for fully-insured individual members in Washington State who have premiums due March 1 and April 1, 2020. This temporary extension is consistent with requirements from the Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner during this public health emergency.

As previously communicated, we have already temporarily extended the grace period from 31 days to 60 days for all fully-insured Small Group Employers, as defined by the Department of Insurance, for all markets we serve, who have premiums due March 1 and April 1, 2020.

For our brokers in the Midwest:

Following recent flexibility offered by the Federally Facilitated Marketplace (FFM), Health Alliance will provide an additional month of coverage, prior to placing them in grace, for our members who receive Advanced Premium Tax Credits (APTC) through the FFM and who have premiums due March 1 and April 1, 2020. Normal grace period rules will apply once they enter the grace period, and their coverage will terminate back to the end of the first month of their grace period if they fail to pay. Health Alliance cannot reinstate these members’ coverage after termination, similar to those members whose grace period has expired earlier in 2020. Individual members who do not receive this subsidy will continue to benefit from a 31-day grace period and can have their coverage reinstated one time, at the member’s option.

As previously communicated, we have already temporarily extended the grace period from 31 days to 60 days for all fully-insured Small Group Employers, as defined by the Department of Insurance, for all markets we serve, who have premiums due March 1 and April 1, 2020.

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As before, we invite you to visit our COVID-19 webpage for up-to-date information about the illness, our response and questions about coverage. We’re here to help you understand the guidance that public health officials are providing, and to answer all questions about coverage during this ongoing situation.

If you have any questions, please contact Broker Services at BrokerServices@healthalliance.org or by calling (877) 917-8489.