To have your current medical plan cancelled, call Customer Service at (855) 836-9705. Blue Shield cannot lawfully cancel your plan without your permission. If you don’t terminate your plan, you’ll end up with two active plans and two sets of bills.
After you’ve paid for your current medical plan’s last month of coverage.
For example, if you want to buy a new medical plan through Covered California with a May 1 start date, you must first pay your current medical plan’s April premium. You can then call Customer Service to terminate your Blue Shield plan at the end of the month after making your payment.
Can you cancel your health insurance policy at any time?
- Simply log into your Marketplace account if you’re canceling an Affordable Care Act (ACA) Obamacare plan you bought on a federal marketplace, such as Healthcare.gov or your state marketplace. State marketplaces will have different prompts and page flows. If you purchased your plan through the federal exchange, simply log into your account on healthcare.gov, go to the “My Plans & Programs” tab, and pick “End (Terminate) All Coverage” from the menu. Before following the final instructions to cancel your Marketplace health insurance policy, enter the date when you want your coverage to terminate.
More Helpful Tips about Cancelling Marketplace Plans
- Cancel as soon as possible: If you’ve chosen to cancel your Marketplace plan, do so as soon as possible. Before coverage stops, there is usually a 14-day waiting period, which means you will be responsible for premium payments for the next two weeks. If you’re canceling coverage for your spouse and other dependents, there is an exception. In such instances, the cancellation is almost always immediate.
- Set an Expire Day Ahead of Time: Policyholders can schedule the cancellation of Marketplace insurance, which means you can specify a specific date in the future for your coverage to end.
- When you cancel, make sure you don’t get billed again: Take a look at your bank statements. Make sure your old policy isn’t being billed and that your new coverage is operational.
How to Cancel Health Insurance Purchased from a Private Insurer
Getting in Touch With Your Provider: If you want to terminate a private insurer’s health insurance, you’ll need to contact that insurer for instructions. The cancellation protocols used by different carriers differ. Some insurers will offer you a form to complete, while others will require a more formal written confirmation to terminate coverage. To acquire the information you need, call the customer support number on the back of your health insurance card.
Helpful Tips When Cancelling Private Plans
- Get Carded: The phone number for your insurer’s customer service is usually printed on your health insurance card and on your monthly premium bill.
- Keep an eye out for waiting periods: If you’re starting a new job, keep in mind that many companies need a 30- to 90-day (or more) waiting period before coverage begins. To avoid a coverage gap, double-check with your HR department to ensure the exact start date of your coverage.
- Record the date, as well as the agent’s full name, the callback number, and your cancellation confirmation number, in your notes when you speak with an insurance representative. It will be much easier to resolve any future concerns now that you have that information.
How to Cancel Employer Health Insurance
- Make sure that the cancellation date for your existing policy falls on or after the start date of your new plan.
- “Cafeteria Plans” have the following exceptions: Employees can choose to discontinue their employer-sponsored health insurance at any time, as long as they are not deducting premium payments from their paychecks before taxes. Employees who are able to pay their premiums using pre-tax cash are enrolled in a Section 125 Plan, which means they can only change or terminate their plan through an OEP or SEP.
Helpful Tips about Employer Health Insurance
- COBRA: Employees (and their families) who lose group health insurance at work must be given the option to keep their coverage but at their own expense.
Employees and their families who lose their health benefits can continue to participate in their group health plan for a limited time under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA), which permits them to do so for up to three years for dependents. In the event of a voluntary or involuntary job loss, a reduction in work hours, divorce, or death, you are eligible for COBRA. However, COBRA is costly since employers no longer contribute; you are responsible for all health-care costs, plus a 2% administration charge.
- If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us. Talk to your HR department at work if you want to learn more about canceling your health insurance coverage.
How to Cancel Medicaid or CHIP Programs
- Expect to be notified by the state about your income adjustment. If your household income rises or state qualification rules change, you may lose your Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program eligibility. (CHIP is a program that provides low-cost health insurance to children under the age of 19 who do not qualify for Medicaid.) If you lose your Medicaid or CHIP coverage, you’ll have a 60-day special enrollment period to purchase a Marketplace plan if you can afford it after collecting common federal subsidies. Subsidies are available to nearly 90% of those who have Obamacare.
- Notify Your Caseworker: If you need to cancel your Medicaid or CHIP plan due to a new job or your child turning 19 and aging out, you’ll need to look into the process in your state. The laws in each state differ greatly. Begin by contacting your state’s Medicaid caseworker. You usually have 30 days to enroll in a Marketplace plan before your Medicaid or CHIP coverage expires.
How to Cancel Obamacare and Switch to Medicaid or CHIP
- Expect a Letter: If you wish to cancel your Obamacare plan because you’ve become eligible for Medicaid or CHIP, you’ll have to go through the same procedure as before. You should receive a letter informing you that you are eligible for Medicaid or CHIP, as well as a list of steps you must do to enroll all by a certain deadline. Don’t wait any longer. Enroll as soon as possible.
- Don’t Forget: You must also terminate your Obamacare coverage in a timely manner. Your Marketplace coverage and expenses will remain if you do not cancel your Obamacare plan once your Medicaid coverage begins. However, whatever government subsidies you were receiving will come to an end, leaving you to pay the full cost of your health insurance, less any cost-sharing reductions you were receiving. Cost Sharing Reduction Subsidies (CSR) lower out-of-pocket expenses on ACA Marketplace Silver plans for those making between 100 percent and 250 percent of the federal poverty threshold (100 percent is $12,760 for an individual, $17,240 for a family of two, $21,720 for a family of three). These subsidies are in addition to Premium Tax Credits, which reduce premium expenses for persons earning between 100% and 400% of the poverty level, up to $50,000 for an individual and $89,000 for a family of three.
How to Switch from Obamacare to Medicare
- Happy 65th Birthday: You can keep your Marketplace plan until you decide to enroll in Medicare. The majority of people enroll as soon as they become eligible during the Initial Enrollment Period, which runs from three months before to three months after their 65th birthday.
- You can even keep your Marketplace plan if you choose. However, after your Medicare Part A coverage begins, you won’t be eligible for any premium tax credits or other cost savings. As a result, the Marketplace plan would have to be purchased at full price.
- After you reach the age of 65, you have another option. You might keep your work-based health insurance until you retire or leave your job.
How to Cancel Health Insurance on Behalf of a Deceased Person
- To get rid of Medicare, follow these steps. If you need to report the death of a Medicare beneficiary, make sure you have the person’s Social Security number (SSN). Then, to report the death, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY: 1-800-325-0778).
- Cancelling a Marketplace Health Insurance Plan: If you’re the primary policyholder and a member of your plan dies, you can cancel the deceased enrollee’s health insurance online at healthcare.gov. You can also report the person’s death by calling the Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596 (TTY: 1-855-889-4325).
- If you aren’t covered by the deceased person’s policy, you can cancel your Marketplace health insurance plan by following these steps. If you’re at least 18 years old, you can report a death on behalf of a household, even if you’re not a member of the household listed on the Marketplace application. What you’ll need to accomplish is:
- Send copies of documents that prove the death, such as the death certificate, obituary, court document proving death, or proof that you were named executor of the estate.
- The deceased person’s entire name, date of birth, SSN (if known), and your contact information as the person submitting the evidence should all be included in these documents.
- Health Insurance Marketplace / ATTN: Coverage Removal, Dept. of Health and Human Services, 465 Industrial Blvd., London, KY 40750-0001, London, KY 40750-0001. It’s important to remember that the originals should be kept as backups and only copies should be sent.
- You Will Be Contacted by the Marketplace Call Center: The Marketplace Call Center will make an attempt to contact you about terminating coverage for the dead person, as well as enquire about the status of anyone else who is still enrolled in the plan. The remaining household members, for example, may need to amend their tax returns, financial information, or other information on their application. When a family member dies, the other members of the household are usually eligible for a SEP, which allows them to amend their plans.
Exceptional Cases for Cancelling Health Insurance
- Child Support or Divorce: As part of court-ordered child support or divorce processes, you may be legally compelled to keep your health insurance policy. In addition, if a Medicare user wants to switch to commercial insurance or an HMO, he or she must apply to the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) beforehand.
- When You Want to Switch from Medicare to Private Insurance: When a Medicare beneficiary desires to move to better private insurance, such as through coverage provided by a new employer, he or she must first apply to the Healthcare Financing Administration (HCFA).
Taking the Next Steps
Do not panic if you are unhappy with your existing coverage or if you lose coverage for some reason; there are nearly always a variety of suitable solutions available to you.
Is there a penalty for Cancelling health insurance?
Yes, you can typically terminate your health insurance without incurring any penalties. If you live in a state with its own coverage mandate, you may be subject to a tax penalty. Your cancellation may take effect immediately, or you may specify a future date, such as when your new coverage will begin.
How do I cancel my Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance in Texas?
BCBSTX and Equian have teamed up to investigate the medical claim indicated on your letter to see if it should be covered by another person or insurance carrier. The claim we’re looking into could be for treatment you received as a result of a work-related injury or an automobile accident.
The information we’re looking for is crucial. It could assist in recovering funds that should have been paid by someone else, such as another insurance company. BCBSTX uses this technique as one of numerous tools to assist limit rising health-care expenses. To answer the claim question, dial the number on the letter.
I applied for a plan on the Health Insurance Exchange and also applied for a plan directly with BCBSTX, so now I’m getting a bill for both. How do I cancel one?
A cancellation request for a Marketplace plan will not be processed. You can call the Marketplace at 1-800-318-2596 to cancel your Exchange plan. If you want to cancel our off-Marketplace plan, we can do it on your behalf. Call 1-800-538-8833 to reach Customer Service. You may also send us a secure email message by logging onto your Blue Access for Members account.
If you do not pay your premium, your coverage will be automatically cancelled for nonpayment. This could be the greatest solution for you. You just pay the premium for the plan you want to keep and not for the one you want to cancel.
For more information regarding benefits, claim status, and more, log in to your Blue Access for Members account from a desktop or mobile device.
How do I cancel health insurance?
A health insurance policy can be easily canceled. You may be required to contact, fill out an online form, or log into an online portal to tell your provider of your cancellation, depending on your provider.
If you decide to terminate your coverage, your health fund should refund all pre-paid contributions.
You should request a clearance certificate from your current health fund to give to your new fund if you’re canceling your coverage to convert to another health fund. This certificate acts as proof of your health insurance coverage; if you do not give a clearing certificate to your new fund, you will have to go through the waiting periods all over again.
Cancelling a Bupa health insurance policy
Members of Bupa can discontinue their membership by filling out an online cancellation form. If you’re moving health plans, they’ll also send your clearance certificate to your new provider. You can also cancel your Bupa membership over the phone.
Can I get a refund if I cancel my health insurance?
Is it possible to get a complete return on your health insurance if you cancel? A full refund is uncommon in most circumstances, especially after the first month of coverage, but individual health insurance providers and states have varying practices and restrictions.
Will not paying your health insurance hurt your credit?
The hardest aspect of obtaining medical care isn’t often the revealing hospital gowns, harsh shots, and freezing temperatures in your doctor’s exam room. Receiving a large medical bill following a doctor’s or hospital visit can be a particularly unpleasant experience. Medical costs, in addition to draining your money account, can have a negative impact on your credit if not paid on time. The key to resolving the issue is to act as soon as possible. Here’s what you need to know to keep your credit score from being harmed by medical expenditures.
Can a health insurance company refuse to cancel your policy?
A health insurance company cannot cancel health insurance at any time, according to the Affordable Care Act (“ACA”). Even in the instance of health insurance fraud, a health insurance company may be unable to cancel a policyholder’s health insurance plan if the policyholder files an appeal and wins their case.
Can I cancel my policy online?
The canceling procedure can be completed online or in person. “For the offline route, the policyholder can go to the insurance company’s branch and file a cancellation request,” Goel explains. To cancel your policy online, go to the insurer’s website and fill out the form there.
What happens when you cancel your insurance?
When you cancel your auto insurance, your insurer is likely to notify your state that you and your vehicle are no longer covered. Because driving without insurance is unlawful in almost every state, your state’s department of motor vehicles may request confirmation that you have either sold the car or obtained other insurance. If you do not react, your registration and driver’s license may be suspended by the state. You may also be compelled to return your license plates in some states.