When you or your company changes insurance, there can be a “lag” between the when the insurance is supposed to take effect and when you receive your insurance card / show up in the insurance system.  This can be stressful!

Here is an example of how that happens:

1. Jane enrolls in health insurance on May 4th, effective for 5/1 (May 1)
2. The insurance company generates the June invoice May 6th
3. Jane’s enrollment does not appear on the invoice for June because the enrollment has not “synced” with the insurance company’s invoice software.
4. Jane IS and will be enrolled effective May, but does not appear on any invoices until the July 1 invoice generated around June 6th.

Here’s how to handle that time frame between when your insurance is supposed to be active and when you actually show up in  the  system / when you get your card.

When you see your doctor / provider, explain to them that you have new insurance / it just changed and that you don’t have your information yet.  Ask them if they can wait to bill you for a few days until you show up in the health insurance system.  Chances are that they’ve seen this before, and they will say “Ok, sure”.  If this happens, give it a few days and if you get your info, great, send it on over to them.

However, they might say, “Sorry, our policy is that insurance or payment must be provided at the time of service.  If this happens you can either pay right there and then request reimbursement from the insurance company (I can help you with this) in a few days, then wait several weeks for a check to arrive in the mail.  Or you can just reschedule and wait.  You can often call ahead if you know this is going to happen and discuss with your provider.