Extra Time to Pay Medicare Premiums Ends September 30, 2020

In light of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) allowed beneficiaries extra time to pay premiums. The opportunity to submit past-due premiums ends on September 30, 2020. In a letter sent to Medicare beneficiaries owing past-due premiums, CMS announced that beneficiaries must pay the full amount owed by September 30th in order to retain Medicare coverage. (Sample Letter at https://medicareadvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/DB-COVID-19-Relief-end-Letter-Template_V4.0-2020-08-05-FINAL.pdf).

As detailed in the Sample Letter, CMS will allow various premium payment options, including paying online with a credit or debit card through a beneficiary secured Medicare account. The Sample Letter also provides information for beneficiaries who have trouble paying their premiums and what beneficiaries can do if coverage has already been cancelled.