During the first month of premium delinquency, Health Net reimburses providers for covered services delivered to APTC beneficiaries, in accordance with standard benefit guidelines.

Starting with the first day of the second month of delinquency, the beneficiary's eligibility reflects a suspended coverage status when a provider verifies eligibility prior to rendering services.

The suspended coverage status remains throughout the second and third month of the grace period unless the beneficiary pays his or her outstanding premium in full. If the premium remains unpaid at the end of the grace period, the beneficiary is disenrolled from the Health Net plan effective the last day of the first month of the grace period.

If a provider delivers covered services during the first month of the grace period, Health Net processes the claim for payment in accordance with standard benefit guidelines. Prior to delivering care to a beneficiary, providers must verify the beneficiary's active eligibility status with Health Net. Starting with the second month of the grace period, if a provider delivers covered services to a beneficiary in suspended coverage status, Health Net contests the claims, as the beneficiary is not considered eligible. If the beneficiary pays delinquent premiums in full before the end of the grace period, Health Net processes these claims for payment. If the beneficiary does not pay delinquent premiums in full by the end of the grace period, Health Net denies these claims due to the beneficiary's ineligibility.

Health Net participating providers who have submitted claims in the two months prior to a beneficiary entering the second month of the grace period receive notification from Health Net of the beneficiary's transition to suspended coverage status. Additionally, for beneficiaries enrolled in a Ambette HMO, the beneficiary's primary care physician (PCP) and affiliated participating physician group (PPG), if any, receive a notification of suspended coverage status. Health Net mails providers a notice of contested claims upon initial contesting, as well as 30 days after, if the beneficiary is still in the grace period. Upon the beneficiary's payment of all outstanding premiums that results in his or her reinstatement of eligibility, or upon expiration of the grace period that results in the beneficiary's termination as of the last day of the first month of the grace period, Health Net processes these claims accordingly.

Providers are under no contractual obligation to provide services during the suspended coverage period and may require patients to pay for care directly or agree to a payment guarantee in the event they eventually disenroll at the end of the grace period.