Paying for a Medi-Gap Policy

[Youngster]

I was told that I must pay a medi-gap policy with a check (for lump sum annual premium)or by monthly direct withdrawal from a checking account. No credit card payments.

Is this standard in the industry?

 

[rodi]

Following this thread with interest. DH is going on medicare next year.

 

[jw72]

I know at least 1 company in Ca does not advertise it or offer it on their forms but takes credit cards if you call them.

 

[MBSC]

Payment methods vary by company. As stated above, you may be able to call in a monthly or annual payment by credit card. Most companies accept monthly payment by check but may give a discount for annual payment. Some companies offer a small discount for automatic bank draft.

 

[Youngster]

Thanks for the responses so far. My concern is with automatic withdrawal. How safe is automatic withdrawal from the standpoint of idenity theft?
Also, can one have a medi-gap policy paid for as a direct withdrawal out of SS retirement benefits, like part B can be?

 

[H2ODude]

We use the AARP/UHC and I'm pretty sure CC weren't accepted. What I found interesting is that we're not taking SS until 70 and Medicare is perfectly OK with mailing us a quarterly bill for our A&B and .... taking CC!

 

[aja8888]

DW pays for hers with a personal check on a quarterly basis. Her insurer (American Republic) does not allow auto withdrawls or CC's.

I pay mine with an auto withdrawal from our checking account monthly. I have an Aetna plan. If I remember correctly, this way of payment was the only option.

As stated above, payment method varies with the insurer.

 

[kaneohe]

Thanks for the responses so far. My concern is with automatic withdrawal. How safe is automatic withdrawal from the standpoint of idenity theft?
Also, can one have a medi-gap policy paid for as a direct withdrawal out of SS retirement benefits, like part B can be?

According to this https://www.mymedicarematters.org/after-enrollment/how-to-pay-your-premiums/

you can have medigap paid from SS (see the words below the 3 boxes).
I know for sure I have seen pt D (Rx) premiums listed on the SSA-1099 tax document and pretty sure I've seen medigap premiums too.

Somehow the fear of missing a single payment and its consequences (cancellation of policy) got instilled in me so some form of autopayment is probably desirable....either from checking account or credit card if you are lucky (I haven't had any w/ credit card).

I suppose problems w/autopayments are not impossible but I've had yrs of autopaying via checking account and multiple credit cards and had only 1 problem that was apparently an error and not fraud (for checking acct). I could not get
payee to fix error so I got the credit union to reverse the transaction.
Some pain but not too bad.

 

[Youngster]

Thanks for all the responses. Looks like the policy my spouse is interested in only allows direct withdrawal.

 

[youbet]

Thanks for all the responses. Looks like the policy my spouse is interested in only allows direct withdrawal.

I've had direct withdrawal from my checking acct for my BCBS supplement for about 4 years with no problem. Hope it stays that way.......