Paying for Health Care Coverage

Pay my premium

Health coverage through covered employment

Once you are enrolled for coverage, you will receive a quarterly invoice by mail to your home address—or by email if you have signed up to receive your health invoice electronically through the Self-Service Portal. It will include all the premiums you owe, including those for dental, vision, or family coverage.

You will pay a $300 premium — or $585 in the event you want to buy up to Tier 1 — for three months of coverage (coverage you earn through covered employment, for example, October 1 through December 31), unless you opt to buy up or buy down to another tier.

You can pay for as much coverage as you have qualified and enrolled for. If you enroll for six months of coverage, you can pay for two quarters at once.

Quarterly premiums for coverage earned through employment are due by the first day of the quarter for which you’re paying. Example: For July–September coverage, the due date for paying your premiums is July 1.

Payments must be received by the due date. Opt. in to receive electronic communication from the Fund Office, and pay your premiums online to avoid penalties or lapses in coverage.

If you miss your premium deadline: You can still retain your coverage by paying the premium plus a $100 penalty ($400 in total for the quarter, unless you elected to buy up to Tier 1, in which case the amount would then be $685). Your coverage won’t begin until your premium and penalty are processed.

If you do not pay the premium and penalty within 30 days of the original due date, you will lose coverage.

Annual premium payment deadlines

All deadline dates listed below are for valid payments to be received by the Equity-League Fund Office by 11:59 pm PT.

Health Premium Deadlines for Receipt of a Payment

For NEW coverage earned through employment

To avoid coverage eligibility issues when you seek care, we must receive your payment by the 15th of the month prior to the start of your coverage period.

Example: You become eligible for benefits on February 1. For your benefits to take effect on February 1, your payment must be received by January 15.

If your coverage is delayed because your premium is not received by the due date, a doctor’s office may not be able to verify your coverage when you need care. If this happens, call the Fund Office at (212) 869-9380 or (800) 344-5220 toll-free outside the New York metro area.

Self-paid coverage (COBRA, self-pay after COBRA, dental only, and Medicare Supplemental)

For most self-paid coverage, premiums are due quarterly, on the first day of the quarter. However, COBRA and COBRA extension premiums are due monthly, on the first day of the month.

If you do not pay the premium within 30 days of the first day of the quarter (or month, if applicable), your coverage will be terminated as of the end of the prior month. You will not be eligible for coverage again unless and until you earn coverage through employment.

Note: Provided that the Fund receives timely payment and the necessary enrollment information, your dependents’ coverage will start when your coverage starts.

Payments must be received by the Equity-League Benefits Fund Office by 11:59 p.m. PT.

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Automatic reminders and payments

Working full time? On the road with a show? Be sure you don’t miss what’s important—like paying your health insurance premiums. Consider opting in to get emails and text messages with important information from the Fund Office, including premium reminders. In addition, you can set up automatic payments for your premiums through the Actors Federal Credit Union.

Opt in for text messages and emails

To receive important Equity-League communications electronically—including reminders for all your premium due dates—opt in for text messages and emails. Here’s how:

1. Log in to the Self-Service Portal.
2. Click on the Contact Information tab. Under Communication Preferences, check the applicable boxes to receive communications electronically.
3. Confirm your contact information, including the email address where you wish to receive communications from Equity-League.
4. Click the Submit button.

After opting in, you will no longer receive paper copies of communications. Although we offer this service at no cost to you, please note that standard text message rates from your phone service provider will apply.

Direct pay through Actors Federal Credit Union

It’s easy to set up automatic health premium payments. Download the automatic payment authorization form [Link to form], complete it, and return it to Actors Federal Credit Union (ActorsFCU). Alternatively, you can call them at (800) 222-8677, or pick up the form in person at the credit union’s New York or Los Angeles office.

Payments will be deducted from your account around the first of the month prior to the start of your quarterly calendar coverage period. For instance, payment for the January–March quarter will be deducted from your account at the beginning of December.

If you don’t have sufficient funds in your account, ActorsFCU will make up the difference with overdraft protection of up to $750 through their Courtesy Pay program for a modest fee.

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Premium rates

The amount you pay for coverage varies depending on whether you’re covered by employment or self-pay, the tier you qualify for, whether you opt to buy up or down to a different tier, and whether you are covering one or more dependents.

To o see the premium rates for your plan choice, see the tables below.

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