Automatic Premium Reimbursement
This article applies to you if you have a Via Benefits reimbursement account (sometimes known as a Health Reimbursement Arrangement)*.
Automatic Premium Reimbursement allows you to be reimbursed for your monthly premium payments without submitting a reimbursement request on the website, the mobile app, or using a paper form. This service is available if you have qualified for the reimbursement account offered by your former employer or benefits provider and are enrolled in a participating plan through Via Benefits Insurance Services. You may also be able to opt in for your Part B premiums. Read Medicare Part B Premium Reimbursement to learn more. Find out if Automatic Premium Reimbursement is available for your plan or Medicare Part B premiums by reviewing your Automatic Premium Reimbursement preferences. You can use Express Reimbursement to be reimbursed for your premium expenses if your plan doesn't support Automatic Premium Reimbursement or if you don't have it turned on.
How Automatic Premium Reimbursement Works
Automatic Premium Reimbursement doesn't pay your premiums.
You pay your plan premium to the insurance carrier. The carrier then transmits an electronic receipt for the payment to Via Benefits. Via Benefits reimburses you for the premium, up to the available balance in your reimbursement account, according to your chosen reimbursement method (paper check or direct deposit).
Please allow up to four weeks to receive your first Automatic Premium Reimbursement after your plan's effective date. If you haven't received your reimbursement after six weeks, reach out to Via Benefits so we can contact your insurance carrier on you behalf. If your plan's effective date has passed, then please allow up to four weeks after turning on Automatic Premium Reimbursement.
When Part B premiums are an eligible expense, the standard Part B premium is reimbursed monthly, dependent on your enrollment in a Medicare medical plan with Via Benefits.
Via Benefits recommends using direct deposit to receive your reimbursements. Direct deposit allows Via Benefits to deposit your reimbursements into a checking or savings account rather than mailing you a paper check. Direct deposit is faster than getting a check in the mail, provides convenient reimbursement when you're away from home, and is more secure than mailed checks. Learn how to set up direct deposit.
Social Security Deduction
We recommend not using Automatic Premium Reimbursement if you make your premium payments using Social Security deduction. Combining Automatic Premium Reimbursements with Social Security deduction may cause reimbursement to be delayed, work sporadically, or not work at all, making it necessary for you to submit reimbursement requests to receive your payments. Automatic Premium Reimbursement works best when you pay the insurance carrier directly and don't have the premium deducted from your Social Security payment.
Medicare Part B payments are eligible for Automatic Premium Reimbursement even though they’re deducted from your Social Security payment.
How To Turn on Automatic Premium Reimbursement
You can turn on Automatic Premium Reimbursement at any time. When you complete your enrollment application, tell the representative you'd like to use Automatic Premium Reimbursement (when available).
You can also review and update your Automatic Premium Reimbursement preference on the website.
Complete the following steps:
1. Sign into Via Benefits and select View Accounts in the Funds and Reimbursements section.
Note: The Funds and Reimbursements section doesn't appear on the Home page if you don't participate in a funding program.
2. Select the View Automatic Premium Reimbursement tab.
3. To change your Automatic Premium Reimbursement Settings, select the OFF/ON toggle.
Note: Select the desired Account from the drop-down list if you have more than one reimbursement account.
Plans in which you’ve recently enrolled may not have Automatic Premium Reimbursement available until the plan’s effective date.
*Via Benefits reimbursement accounts are administered by Extend Health, LLC.