Anthem extends payment deadline for new members

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield has extended the payment deadline for customers beginning coverage in February and will continue to provide customer service to people who visit the company’s Wallingford headquarters through the end of the month.

The payment deadline for new customers beginning coverage in February is now Feb. 10, according to a message posted on Anthem’s website. The deadline had been Jan. 31.

Anthem has struggled to set up coverage for the thousands of state residents starting health plans with the company this year, many of whom signed up through the state’s health insurance exchange. But state officials have said the company appears to be making progress in getting people covered.

Anthem extended its January payment deadline several times and allowed customers to make payments or get help at the company headquarters at 108 Leigus Road in Wallingford. The in-person assistance was originally slated to end Friday, but it will continue on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through the end of February.

Members enrolling in coverage for February who pay by the 10^th will receive coverage retroactive to Feb. 1, but the company said people’s payments must be processed for them to begin using their benefits.

For existing customers, the February premium deadline is Feb. 1. But those customers’ coverage won’t be cut off as long as they pay by Feb. 28.

The company also made available forms customers can use to get reimbursed for care they received and paid for out-of-pocket. The form for prescription drug reimbursement is available here. The form for other claims is available here.