Florida Blue Bill Pay With Credit Card: A Comprehensive Guide

Paying your Florida Blue health insurance premiums on time each month is crucial for maintaining coverage. Many customers wonder if they can use a credit card to pay their Florida Blue bill conveniently online.

While Florida Blue does not directly accept credit cards for premium payments, there are some simple workarounds that offer the same ease and security as paying by card This guide explains the payment options available and tips for managing your Florida Blue account payments

Why Doesn’t Florida Blue Take Credit Cards Directly?

Florida Blue does not accept direct credit card payments for monthly premium bills. This is due to the high processing fees charged by credit card companies – around 3% per transaction.

As a non-profit health insurer Florida Blue aims to keep administrative costs low so they can pass maximum savings to members through lower premium rates.

By not charging credit card fees, they keep these costs from being added to your monthly premiums. Florida Blue thinks that these credit card fees will cost more than $200 million a year, which will be paid for by consumers.

What Payment Methods Does Florida Blue Accept?

You can’t pay directly with a credit card, but Florida Blue does offer a number of other easy ways to pay:

• Automatic bank draft – Authorize withdrawals from your checking account each month to pay your premiums automatically. You can enroll online or by calling Florida Blue.

• Online bank debit payments – Log in to your Florida Blue account and pay from your checking account electronically without having to mail checks

• Electronic fund transfers, or EFTs, let you send money from your checking account to Florida Blue right away. You can make one-time payments or set up recurring transfers.

• Mail-in checks and money orders – Send your payment to Florida Blue by check or money order using the payment slip in your monthly invoice.

• Florida Blue Center payments – Visit your local Florida Blue Center and pay by cash, check, or debit card.

• Authorized payment locations – Pay in person at retail partners like CVS, Dollar General, and Navarro Pharmacies using debit, cash, or credit cards.

Workarounds for Paying by Credit Card

While not ideal, there are a couple of workarounds that let you pay by credit card indirectly:

• Pay an authorized retailer – For a small fee, pay your bill in cash at a partner retail location, then use your credit card to withdraw the cash.

• Use a third-party payment service – Companies like Plastiq charge around a 2.5% fee to pay your bill with a credit card on your behalf.

• Get a cash advance – Use a credit card cash advance to withdraw funds and pay Florida Blue directly. However, cash advance fees and interest rates are usually very high.

• Use a debit card – Debit cards pull directly from your bank account but allow online payments like a credit card. Just be sure it processes as a debit transaction, not credit.

Setting Up Automatic Payments

The easiest way to avoid late fees and coverage lapses is to enroll in automatic payments. This authorizes Florida Blue to withdraw your monthly premium directly from your bank account.

To enroll in autopay:

• Login to your Florida Blue account
• Under “Billing and Payments,” select “Pay My Bill”
• Choose “Pay my bill automatically”
• Enter your bank account information
• Pick the date you want payments to deduct each month

You can also call Florida Blue customer service at 1-800-352-2583 and they can assist in setting up recurring auto-payments over the phone.

Tips for Paying Your Florida Blue Bill

• Always pay your exact account balance in full each month and by the due date. Partial payments can result in cancelled coverage.

• Log in to your Florida Blue account regularly to view your latest invoices and confirm your autopay enrollments.

• Update your billing account information immediately if your payment method changes – don’t risk missed payments and fees.

• Take advantage of paperless billing to receive invoice notifications electronically rather than waiting for mailed statements.

• If paying by check, be sure to include your remittance slip and write your member ID clearly. Double check amounts to avoid processing issues.

• If you anticipate difficulty paying on time, contact Florida Blue immediately for help – don’t let your coverage lapse. Ask about hardship extensions or payment plan options.

The Bottom Line

While credit cards may seem like the easiest option, Florida Blue does not accept direct credit card payments to avoid passing processing fees to members. But services like automatic bank drafts offer the same convenience without the card fees. If you prefer the flexibility of paying by card, workarounds let you use a credit card indirectly for a small fee. Just focus on paying your full invoice balance on time each month using your preferred payment method.