How to Pay Your Health Connector Bill Online

What Health Connector is and why you might owe a bill

Health Connector is Massachusetts's health insurance marketplace. If you bought a plan through Health Connector, you may owe a bill if you received a tax credit or subsidy that turns out to be more than you were may have access to to, or if you chose to pay your premium directly rather than have it deducted from another source.

Most people who buy through Health Connector have their premiums deducted automatically from a bank account or paycheck. But some people pay manually each month, and others receive a bill after their annual tax return shows they earned more or less than expected when they got their subsidy. Understanding which situation applies to you matters because the payment method and important date depend on it.

Health Connector bills are not the same as your monthly premium bill. A premium bill is what you owe for your insurance each month. A Health Connector bill is usually a reconciliation bill — money you owe back because your subsidy was too large — or a bill for premiums you chose to pay out of pocket rather than have deducted automatically.

Key Takeaways

• You can pay a Health Connector bill online through your Health Connector account, by phone at 1-877-623-6765, or by mailing a check to the address on your bill.
• If your bill is a subsidy reconciliation (money owed back to the state), you must pay by the date shown on your notice or risk losing your coverage.
• If your bill is for monthly premiums you chose to pay manually, the due date is usually the first of the month, and late payment can result in a lapse in coverage.
• You can set up automatic payments through your Health Connector account to avoid missing a due date.
• If you cannot pay the full amount, contact Health Connector to ask about a payment plan before the due date passes.

Paying online through your Health Connector account

The fastest way to pay is through your Health Connector account at www.mahealthconnector.org. Log in with your username and password. If you do not have an account yet, you can create one using your email address and a password you choose.

Once logged in, look for a section labeled "Billing" or "Pay My Bill." Click on it to see any outstanding balance. The page will show the amount due and the due date. Select the amount you want to pay — you can pay the full bill or a partial payment if you are working out a payment plan with Health Connector.

You will then enter your bank account information (routing number and account number) or credit card details. Health Connector accepts debit cards and most major credit cards, though credit card payments may include a processing fee. Review the information carefully before you submit, because once the payment is processed it cannot be reversed.

After you submit, you will see a confirmation number on your screen. Write it down or take a screenshot. You will also receive a confirmation email. Keep both for your records. The payment usually appears in Health Connector's system within one to two business days.

Paying by phone or mail

If you prefer not to pay online, you can call Health Connector at 1-877-623-6765. A representative can tell you the exact amount due, the due date, and can process a payment over the phone using your bank account or debit card. They cannot process credit card payments by phone.

You can also mail a check to the address printed on your bill. Write your Health Connector member ID number on the check. Mail it to arrive at least five business days before the due date, because checks take time to clear and Health Connector records the payment only after it is deposited.

If you do not have a bill in front of you and do not know the mailing address, call 1-877-623-6765 and ask for it. Do not send a check to Health Connector's main office address unless the bill specifically says to do so, because mail sent to the wrong department can be delayed.

Setting up automatic payments to avoid missing a due date

If you pay manually each month, you can set up automatic payments through your Health Connector account so you never miss a important date. Log in, go to your billing section, and look for an option to "Set Up Automatic Payments" or "Enroll in Auto-Pay."

You will enter your bank account information once, and Health Connector will deduct the payment automatically on the due date each month. You can change or cancel automatic payments at any time by logging back in, but you must do so before the payment date if you want to stop that month's deduction.

Automatic payments are especially useful if your bill is for a subsidy reconciliation that must be paid in full by a specific date. Once set up, you do not have to remember to log in or write a check — the system handles it for you.

What happens if you miss the due date

If your bill is a subsidy reconciliation and you do not pay by the due date, Health Connector may terminate your coverage. The termination usually takes effect on the last day of the month in which the payment was due. You will receive a notice in the mail telling you your coverage has ended.

If your bill is for monthly premiums and you miss the due date, your coverage will lapse after a grace period. Massachusetts allows a 30-day grace period for premium payments, meaning you have 30 days after the due date to pay before your plan ends. During the grace period, your coverage continues, but if you use medical services, you may be billed for them if the premium is not paid before the grace period ends.

If your coverage lapses, you will need to re-enroll in a plan during the next open enrollment period (usually November through January) or within 60 days of a may have access to life event such as losing other insurance, moving, or having a baby. Gaps in coverage can also affect your tax return the following year.

Requesting a payment plan if you cannot pay in full

If you cannot pay the full amount by the due date, contact Health Connector before the important date to ask about a payment plan. Call 1-877-623-6765 and explain your situation to a representative. They can sometimes arrange for you to pay the bill in installments over two to four months instead of all at once.

Payment plans are not automatic — you must request one, and Health Connector will review your request. The sooner you call, the more likely they are to work with you. If you wait until after the due date has passed, your options become much more limited.

If Health Connector approves a payment plan, you will receive a new notice in the mail showing the installment amounts and dates. Make sure you pay each installment on time, because missing even one payment can end the plan and result in coverage termination.

Understanding the difference between a reconciliation bill and a premium bill

A reconciliation bill arrives after you file your taxes. When you enrolled in Health Connector, you told them how much income you expected to earn that year. Based on that income, they calculated a tax credit or subsidy to help pay your premium. But if your actual income was higher than you predicted, you received more subsidy than you were may have access to to. The reconciliation bill asks you to pay back the difference.

A premium bill is what you owe for your monthly insurance. If you chose to pay your premium manually instead of having it deducted automatically, you will receive a bill each month showing what is due. This is different from a reconciliation bill because it is for current coverage, not a correction of past subsidy.

The due date and consequences of missing payment are different for each type. A reconciliation bill usually has a specific important date (often 30 to 60 days from the notice date), and missing it can end your coverage when ready. A premium bill has a monthly due date, and you have a 30-day grace period before coverage lapses. If you are unsure which type of bill you have, the notice itself will say "Reconciliation" or "Premium Payment Due" near the top.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pay my Health Connector bill with a credit card online?

Yes, Health Connector accepts major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover) on its website. Be aware that credit card payments may include a processing fee of 2 to 3 percent, which will be added to your bill. If you pay by phone or bank account, there is no fee.

What if I paid my bill but it still shows as due on my account?

Payments take one to two business days to appear in Health Connector's system after you submit them online. If you paid more than two business days ago and it still does not show, log in and check your confirmation number, then call 1-877-623-6765 with that number so they can look up the payment.

Do I have to pay a bill if I am on MassHealth instead of Health Connector?

MassHealth and Health Connector are separate programs. If you are on MassHealth (the state's free or low-cost insurance for low-income people), you do not pay a premium, so you would not have a Health Connector bill. If you are unsure which program you are in, check your insurance card or call 1-877-623-6765.

What if I cannot find my bill or do not know how much I owe?

Log in to your Health Connector account and go to the billing section to see your balance. If you do not have an account or cannot log in, call 1-877-623-6765 and a representative will tell you the amount due and the due date. Have your member ID number ready if you have it.

Can I dispute a bill if I think the amount is wrong?

If you believe your bill is incorrect, call Health Connector at 1-877-623-6765 before the due date and ask to speak with someone in billing. Explain why you think the amount is wrong and provide any documents that support your claim. Do not wait until after the due date to dispute it, because you may still be required to pay while the dispute is being reviewed.