The answer depends on whether you are receiving advanced premium tax credits. For people receiving advanced premium tax credits, if a payment due date is missed, insurers must provide a 90-day grace period during which consumers can bring their premium payments up to date and avoid having their coverage terminated. However, the grace period only applies if an individual has paid at least one month’s premium within the current plan year. If, by the end of the 90-day grace period, the amount owed for all outstanding premium payments is not paid in full, the insurer can terminate coverage.

In addition, during the first 30 days of the grace period, the insurer must continue to pay claims. However, after the first 30 days of the grace period, the insurer can hold off paying any health care claims for care received during the grace period. Some states require insurers to pay claims received past the first month of the grace period. Check with your state Marketplace what charges you would be responsible for. Insurers are supposed to inform health care providers when someone’s claims are being held. This could mean that providers request that you pay out-of-pocket for the full cost of care, or they may not provide care until the premiums are paid up so that they know they will be paid. People not receiving advanced premium tax credits generally get a much shorter grace period; currently, the general practice is 31 days, but it may vary in each state. Note that insurers are not allowed to require people who owe past-due premiums from the past 12 months to repay the premium debt before renewing or buying new coverage for the next year.