Customers can now pay their monthly health insurance bills with cash, debit or credit at any CVS Pharmacy; Governor Raimondo pledges to continue to protect the Affordable Care Act
EAST PROVIDENCE, RI- Governor Gina Raimondo joined HealthSource RI Director Zachary Sherman and Woonsocket-based CVS Health today to announce a new partnership aimed at further reducing Rhode Island's uninsured rate by expanding options to pay for health insurance bills. The new partnership allows HealthSource RI customers to visit any CVS Pharmacy store nationwide and pay their monthly health insurance premium at the checkout. CVS Pharmacy will accept credit cards, debit cards and cash as payment.
Earlier in the day, Governor Raimondo and Sen. Joshua Miller met with healthcare providers, patients and community leaders at Providence Community Health Centers on a range of topics, including ongoing efforts in Washington to dismantle the Affordable Care Act and gut protections for Rhode Islanders with preexisting conditions. Following the meeting she called on the Legislature to take action on bills that would improve market stability and ensure that Rhode Island's health insurance market works for all individuals and families.
"While Washington is talking about putting people's lives at risk and gutting protections for Rhode Islanders with preexisting conditions, we are working to protect our state's most vulnerable. To even suggest taking away coverage for preexisting conditions is not only intolerable, it's immoral," said Raimondo. "Here in Rhode Island we are committed to doing everything we can to make sure everyone has access to quality, affordable healthcare. I'm proud that Rhode Island is the first state with a marketplace that will allow customers to pay their HealthSource RI premium at any CVS nationwide."
HealthSource RI Director Zachary Sherman says he's thrilled about this chance to expand customer payment options. "At HealthSource RI our goal is to make it as easy as possible for Rhode Islanders to get and stay insured. We know that residents lose coverage every month because they've missed a bill payment or paid too late. This innovative partnership with CVS Health will increase the likelihood that our customers stay covered by enabling customers to pay their bills where they want, when they want and with the payment method that's right for them."
Before this partnership, HealthSource RI could only accept checks, money orders or electronic transfers and customers could only pay online, through the mail or at the HealthSource RI contact center.
Bill pay at CVS Pharmacy is no-cost and simple. HealthSource RI health insurance bills now include a special barcode that can be scanned at the CVS Pharmacy checkout. Customers can then pay their bill the way they pay for any other purchase at CVS Pharmacy. There's even the option of splitting their monthly bill into smaller, manageable payments.
Individuals and families can enroll in coverage during HealthSource RI's Open Enrollment period every fall or any time they experience a life change that affects their ability to have health coverage. Small employers who purchase coverage through HealthSource RI for Employers may enroll in health insurance coverage throughout the year or at their regular renewal date. Rhode Islanders can learn more or enroll at HealthSourceRI.com.
About HealthSource RI: HealthSource RI was created because buying health insurance is complicated. It's HealthSource RI's job to help Rhode Islanders cut through the confusion and choose the best, most affordable health insurance plan possible. Since 2013, HealthSource RI has decreased the uninsured rate by more than two thirds, and today, 96 percent of Rhode Islanders have health coverage. For more information, visit HealthSourceRI.com, follow us on Twitter @HealthSourceRI, and like us on Facebook at fb.com/HealthSourceRI.
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