Health insurance premiums are due according to your insurance carrier’s billing schedule, and they are paid either automatically through AutoPay (when enabled) or directly by the employee depending on the employer’s HRA setup.
When are health insurance premiums due?
Premiums are due based on your insurance carrier’s billing cycle, not Take Command’s schedule.
In most cases:
Premiums are due monthly
Carriers may bill on different dates (commonly the 1st, 5th, or 20th of the month)
Payments are often collected in advance of coverage (for example, late-month payments may apply to the next month’s coverage)
The first payment (binder payment) may be required immediately upon enrollment to activate coverage
Each carrier sets its own billing rules, which determine exact due dates.
How are premiums paid with AutoPay?
If your employer uses AutoPay:
The employer funds a dedicated disbursement account
Take Command calculates expected monthly premium amounts
Funds are made available for carrier withdrawal
The insurance carrier pulls premium payments directly from the AutoPay account
Payments occur automatically on the carrier’s billing schedule
Employees typically do not need to manually pay premiums when AutoPay is active.
How are premiums paid without AutoPay?
If AutoPay is not enabled:
Employees pay premiums directly to the insurance carrier
Employees may need to set up their own payment method with the carrier
Employers then reimburse employees through payroll after claim approval (based on the HRA design)
Employees must submit proof of coverage and/or payment for reimbursement eligibility
When is the first premium due (binder payment)?
The first premium payment is usually required:
When you enroll in a new plan
Shortly after approval by the carrier
Before coverage becomes active
This “binder payment” activates your policy and ensures coverage starts on the effective date.
For new enrollments, this payment may be charged even before the coverage month begins.
Why was I charged earlier or later than expected?
Premium timing can vary because:
Carrier billing cycles
Each carrier sets its own billing date and structure.
Enrollment timing
If you enroll mid-month, your first charge may occur immediately to activate coverage.
Renewal timing
At renewal, carriers may collect the first premium in advance (often in December for January coverage).
Payment alignment
Some payments cover the upcoming month rather than the current month depending on the carrier’s billing structure.
What happens if a payment is missed?
If a premium is not paid on time:
The carrier may issue a grace period notice
Coverage may be at risk of termination if payment is not received
AutoPay may attempt reprocessing if enabled
Employees may need to take action directly with the carrier
Coverage rules vary by insurance carrier.
Do I still receive invoices if I’m on AutoPay?
Yes. Even if AutoPay is active:
Carriers may still send billing statements or invoices
These are informational and do not always require manual payment
AutoPay is typically responsible for processing the actual payment
Can I change my premium due date?
In most cases:
No. Due dates are controlled by the insurance carrier
Some carriers may allow limited billing adjustments
Changes must be requested directly through the carrier
Take Command cannot modify carrier billing schedules.
What does NOT affect premium due dates?
The following do not change when premiums are due:
HRA allowance amounts
Employer payroll cycles
Reimbursement schedules
Take Command reporting timelines
Only the insurance carrier determines billing timing.