Failure to Pay

Thank you for trusting Wellcare with your Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit. As your prescription drug provider, we want to ensure that you have all the medications you need. Below are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) on what happens if you don’t pay your monthly premium. 

What is Failure to Pay?

Failure to pay happens if we don’t get your monthly premium payment on time when it is due each month. Remember that your monthly premium may also include a late enrollment penalty (LEP). 

What happens if i don't pay?

If you don’t pay the full amount due by the end of the grace period, you will lose your Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) coverage with us. This is called being disenrolled. If you are disenrolled, you must join another Medicare PDP within 62 days. Otherwise, you may be charged a lifetime LEP by Medicare. This penalty is added to your monthly premium. For more information on LEP, visit wellcare.com/LEP.

What do I need to do if I missed a payment?

To avoid losing your coverage, please make your payment as soon as possible! Don’t rely on regular mail if your grace period ends in less than two weeks. Instead: 

• Make a phone payment by calling 1-888-550-5252 (TTY: 711).
• Pay online on the secure member portal at member.wellcare.com.
• Use our guest portal at webpayments.billmatrix.com/WellcareGuestPortal to make a one-time payment.
• Pay in person with cash. Visit checkfreepay.com to find a location near you.
• Send a check overnight to:
  Wellcare
  5450 N. Cumberland Ave.
  Attn: Dept 75510
  Chicago, IL 60656

I think I got a notice in error. What should I do?

• Call Member Services at 1-888-550-5252 (TTY: 711), Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Between October 1 and March 31, representatives are available Monday-Sunday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.) as soon as possible. We’ll help review your account.
• Go to our secure member portal at member.wellcare.com to check your balance.
• If you’re using AutoPay, electronic funds transfer (EFT), or a Social Security / Railroad Retirement benefit check deduction, make sure your payment method is active and processing correctly. 

How will I know if I missed a payment?

If you miss a payment, don’t worry — you have a three-month grace period to catch up (see below). During this time, we will contact you with reminders to make a payment.

Here’s how we may contact you, depending on your communication preferences:

• Letters or email messages.
• Text messages from “Jen,” our automated assistant.
• Automated phone calls with important reminders.
• Payment reminders in the member portal.

My phone number or address has changed. How can I update it?

It is important that we have your correct address and phone number. If you need to update your contact information, call Member Services at 1-888-550-5252 (TTY: 711) or log in to the secure member portal at member.wellcare.com as soon as possible.
REMEMBER: Not getting a notice due to outdated contact info does not prevent you from being disenrolled.

How does the grace period work?

If you miss a payment, you have a three-month grace period. Here’s an example of what that looks like:

How do I prevent going into failure to pay in the future?

Please make sure we get your monthly premium and/or LEP payments before the 20th of the month. If you are mailing your payment, please allow 14 days for us to get and process your payment.

Think about signing up for automatic monthly payments, such as AutoPay, EFT, or Social Security / Railroad Retirement benefit check deductions.

NOTE: You will need to pay any past-due premiums or LEPs when you sign up for automatic monthly payments. This is because automatic payments won’t bring your account up to date.

If you would like to sign up for AutoPay or EFT, please log in to our secure member portal at member.wellcare.com or call Member Services at the phone number on the back of your ID card.

For more information on Social Security / Railroad Retirement deductions (also known as the Premium Withhold Option PWO), please visit wellcare.com/PWO. Member Services can process your request to start PWO deductions. Call 1-888-550-5252 (TTY: 711) to get started.

How do I review my payment history? What if a payment isn’t showing?

Log in to the secure member portal at member.wellcare.com to check your account. If you made a payment that isn’t showing, call Member Services at 1-888-550-5252 (TTY: 711) with the following info:

• Payment method and date.
• Amount and check number (if applicable).
• Images of the cleared check (front and back).

Member Services will need this information to look into the missing payment. If we got your payment before the end of your grace period, we may be able to reinstate your coverage.

What if I’ve already lost my benefits?

If you have been disenrolled, your plan won’t cover the cost of your prescription medications. You will have to pay for them out of pocket. Call Member Services at 1-888-550-5252 (TTY: 711) to explore your options.

I couldn’t make a payment due to extraordinary circumstances. What should I do?

Call Member Services at 1-888-550-5252 (TTY: 711) and explain your situation. While reinstatement is limited, we’ll review your case carefully.