Brokers & Partners

Payment Deferral Requests for May Must be Submitted by June 10, 2020
(Available for your fully insured groups with CareFirst medical coverage)

During this challenging time, CareFirst is committed to ensuring our employer groups’ policies are not cancelled for nonpayment of premiums. Employers experiencing difficulties with making their payments can apply for a deferral. Any group requesting this option must have medical coverage and provide written documentation to you, indicating this request and the deferral month(s).

  • For groups with less than 200 employees - You can request a premium deferral request on behalf of fully insured employer groups that CareFirst bills directly. Requests for groups billed by a third-party administrator must be made by contacting the FSP.
    • Log in to the Broker portal and navigate to the group's profile page. Navigate to Billing Home and click the payment deferral form under Quick Links.
  • For groups with more than 200 employees – Please contact the assigned CareFirst Account Executive to request payment deferral.
  • Please note that you can only make payment deferral requests on a per-group basis. Only one payment deferral per group can be submitted.
  • Once your request has been made, it will be considered final for the requested period and cannot be modified online.

Please noteyou can only make deferral requests for groups that CareFirst bills directly. Deferral requests for groups billed by a third-party administrator (TPA) must be made by contacting the FSP.

For additional details, please review the FAQs on payment deferral and eligibility below.

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Premium payment deferrals are being offered for the months of April and May or May only. The deferred premium would be satisfied over time through scheduled periodic payments though the remainder of 2020.

Individuals and employer groups can request to defer payments for up to two months (April/May) or one month (May) and will be billed for those payments, which would be broken out over the remaining months of 2020.

For every month(s) that is deferred, that total premium would be divided by the remaining number of months in 2020.

Requests to defer April and May are due by May 10, 2020. Deferral requests for May only are due by June 10, 2020.

One Month Deferment Example: If a May premium of $14,000 is deferred, you would divide by 7 months (June through December) resulting in the monthly deferral premium being $2,000. The new amount—regular monthly premium + the monthly deferral premium—would be due with the June payment and continue through the remainder of 2020.

Two Months Deferment Example: If both April ($12,000) and May ($13,000) premiums are being deferred, you would divide by 7 months (June through December) resulting in the monthly deferral premium being $3,571.43. The new amount—regular monthly premium + the monthly deferral premium—would be due with the June payment and continue through the remainder of 2020.

If a group terminates before 12/31/2020, as long as they abide by the payment plan rules, the group would have through 12/31/2020 to complete their deferred payment plan. CareFirst may pursue all options to recover any delinquent amounts, including the deferred dollars.

The deferral is available to both Individuals and groups who are paid in full up to the month prior to the deferral period.

Example: If deferring March/April, the individual or group must be paid through February.

Example: If deferring April/May, the individual or group must be paid through March.

  • Does not apply for individuals who receive subsidies
  • Does not apply to DC SHOP groups (including the dental/vision only groups that accompany small groups that have medical under a separate group ID)
  • Does not apply to standalone products (dental, vision)
  • Does not apply to ASO self-funded groups, administrative fees or claims invoices
  • Individuals/Groups must be paid to date before requested deferral dates

Yes, deferred premiums are limited to the months above and must be consecutive.

You can choose between deferring the premium for one month (May) or two months (April and May). Requests to defer April and May are due by May 10, 2020. Deferral requests for May only are due by June 10, 2020.

No, payment for deferred premiums must be received by 12/31/20.

After the 60-day deferment, premium payments will resume and the scheduled periodic payment for the deferral will be added. Both will need to remain current to avoid cancellation.

Individuals and employer groups will receive a letter once their deferral request is processed that will outline their deferral and new monthly payment amount.

CareFirst does not accept credit cards for group premium payments. Groups should continue to remit their payment using their existing payment methods—check, wire, ACH or direct debit.

CareFirst will send an acknowledgement letter to direct billed groups and individuals once their request for deferral is processed and approved. This letter will outline the payment plan rules, installment plan payments that are due, etc. We are working on finalizing that letter.

We are asking groups to pause their auto debits during the deferral period. CareFirst will monitor to confirm auto debits are paused. Auto pays should be reactivated at the end of the deferral period.

COBRA participants are not receiving additional grace periods for their payments past the 30-day payment grace period required by law. CareFirst should continue to receive updates to paid-through dates and notice of terminations timely. Standard contractual retroactivity policies continue to apply.

Most groups under 50 do not differentiate active employees from COBRA participants. When a COBRA distinction has been requested upon initial setup, it is accommodated. Generally, there is no clear tracking for under 50 groups.

No. The current enrollment file process should remain as-is.

Yes, documentation of business rules will be provided to each FSP.

The arrears notification will not be sent during the deferral of payment period but will be sent when the regular premium cycles begin.

The group will be directed back to the FSP.

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