Paying your health insurance premiums on time each month is important to keep your Blue Shield Covered California plan active. Luckily, Blue Shield and Covered California offer several convenient online and offline options to pay your monthly bill. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk through the various methods to pay your Blue Shield Covered California premium bill, from paying online via the Blue Shield member portal, setting up automatic payments, paying over the phone, and submitting payments by mail.
Overview of Paying Your Blue Shield Covered California Premium
When you enroll in a Blue Shield health plan through Covered California, you will receive a monthly premium bill that is due by the date shown on your statement, usually the 1st of the month As a Blue Shield member, you have multiple ways to pay this including
- Pay online via the Blue Shield member portal
- Set up automatic payments from your bank account
- Pay by phone
- Mail in a payment
- Pay through your bank’s online bill pay
Payments are due by the due date shown on your bill to keep your coverage active. Blue Shield does not charge late fees if a payment is received after the due date, however your account will be considered delinquent and you may receive a notice that your payment is past due.
Below I’ll outline the steps for each payment option and provide tips for avoiding issues like late payments when using bill pay.
Paying Online Through the Blue Shield Member Portal
The fastest and easiest way to pay your Blue Shield Covered California premium is online through the Blue Shield member portal,
Here are step-by-step instructions for paying online:
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Go to www.blueshieldca.com/login and log into your account
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From the dashboard, click on the “Current Bill” tab
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Select the “Pay premium” button
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If paying with a new payment method, choose “New payment method” and enter your card or bank account details. Otherwise, select a stored payment method.
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Enter the payment amount and date
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Review your payment details and select “Make payment”
With the online portal, you can make an immediate one-time payment or schedule future payments. Payments submitted before 8 PM PT on the due date will avoid your account being marked delinquent.
The Blue Shield site also lets you view current and past bills online by selecting “View bill details” on the Current Bill tab.
Setting Up Automatic Payments
To ensure you never miss a payment, Blue Shield members can enroll in AutoPay to have premiums paid automatically each month. Here’s how to set up AutoPay:
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Log into your Blue Shield account and go to the Current Bill tab
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Click on “AutoPay: OFF” and select “New payment method”
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Choose bank account or card
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Enter your payment details
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Select “Set up”
Once enrolled, your account will show “AutoPay: ON” and payments will deduct automatically going forward. If enrolling within 4 days of your due date, you’ll need to make a one-time payment for the current month before AutoPay starts.
You can change or cancel AutoPay anytime under the Current Bill tab.
Paying by Phone
To use Blue Shield’s automated phone system to pay your bill:
- Call the number on the back of your member ID card
- Or call (800) 393-6130
You can also speak to a customer service agent for assistance paying your bill over the phone.
Submitting a Payment by Mail
To pay your bill by mail:
- Use the payment remittance slip included with your statement
- Write your full account number from the remittance slip on your check or money order
- Mail to:
Blue Shield of California
P.O. Box 4700
Whittier, CA 90607-4700
Ensure your payment is mailed several days before the due date to arrive on time.
Using Your Bank’s Online Bill Pay
You can use your bank’s online bill pay feature to send Blue Shield payments each month. To do this:
- Follow your bank’s instructions to set up a new bill pay
- Enter the correct Blue Shield mailing address and account number from your statement
- Double check the payment send date to ensure your bank sends the payment in time to be received by the due date
Tips for Avoiding Late Payments
To prevent your Blue Shield account from becoming delinquent and risk cancellation follow these tips:
- Pay online before 8 PM PT on the due date
- When using bill pay, send payments at least 5 days before the due date
- Sign up for AutoPay for hassle free payments
- Opt in to receive email reminders for upcoming deadlines
Get Help Paying Your Blue Shield Covered California Bill
Paying your monthly health insurance premium keeps your Blue Shield Covered California coverage active. Take advantage of the convenient online payment options through the Blue Shield member portal or set up automatic payments.
If you have any questions about billing and payment options, contact Blue Shield or Covered California customer service for assistance. Act quickly if your account becomes delinquent to avoid the risk of your coverage being cancelled for nonpayment.
Can I make a payment before my next bill is available?
Yes. If you do not have an amount due, select the ‘no payment necessary’ button and confirm you would like to make an extra payment. You can then proceed through the ‘make a payment’ screens as usual.
Pay by phone
To use our automated phone service to pay your bill, call the number on the back of your Blue Shield member ID card or the number on your billing statement. You can pay your current balance conveniently with a previously stored payment method or by adding a new one. Transactions are processed quickly and post to your account by the end of the day.
If you need more help, our Customer Service team is available to assist you.
Learn How To Pay Your Premium Online
FAQ
Is Covered California same as Blue Shield?
What is the grace period for Blue Shield of California payments?
How to check Covered California status?
Does Blue Shield of California provide tax advice?
*Blue Shield of California is not a tax professional, and cannot provide tax advice, but we can help you with Blue Shield health plan tax form (s) you need to file. If you have questions, please contact Member Services. View and pay your bill, set up the most convenient payment method.
How do I pay Blue Shield of California?
Have your subscriber ID or Social Security number ready. For first-time payment: log in to your CoveredCA.com account and follow the payment instructions. Have your case number or Social Security number on hand. Allow seven to 10 days for Blue Shield of California to process your enrollment. This applies to the first month’s premium payment only.
How do I pay my blue shield Bill?
You can use your bank’s Bill Pay (or similar) service to have payments sent to Blue Shield each month. To get started, follow your bank’s online instructions to set up Bill Pay and be sure to enter the correct Blue Shield account number and mailing address found on your bill. (Refer to “Pay by mail” for mailing address and account number details.)
How do I pay my BlueShield premium?
Then you can follow the prompts for “pay my bill.” For your first premium payment only, go to www.blueshieldca.com/PaymentBSC. Have your invoice ready. your application ID is required. and log in as a member, and select “Pay my bill” under the Billing & Payments section.
How do I enroll in blue shield of California?
Have your case number or Social Security number on hand. Allow seven to 10 days for Blue Shield of California to process your enrollment. This applies to the first month’s premium payment only. Registration is required. Have your Social Security number ready.
How do I pay for Covered CA?
Have your Covered California ID or Social Security number ready. For first-time payment: log into your CoveredCA.com account and follow the payment instructions. Please write your subscriber/account number on your check/money order. Have your Covered California ID or Social Security number available.