News & Information

Make Payments Easily with our Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) Program
Tufts Medicare Preferred HMO and PDP members are able to make plan premium payments through Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). With EFT, your monthly plan premium payments will be automatically deducted from your checking or savings account and transferred to Tufts Medicare Preferred. Signing up is easy and can help make paying your monthly plan premium hassle free. Just remember to keep enough money in your bank account each month for the automatic deduction.

Benefits of EFT include:

• Plan premium payments will not be late or lost
• Your plan premium is paid even when your are away from home or on vacation
• You save postage costs and spend less time writing checks
• It is a safe, easy and convenient way to make timely payments

Signing Up
To sign up for EFT you will need to be an active Tufts Medicare Preferred member and have no outstanding balance on your account. You will also need to fill out an EFT Authorization Form (forms are available on our "Plan Documents" page or by calling Customer Relations). This form allows Tufts Medicare Preferred to automatically deduct your Tufts Medicare Preferred premium payments from your checking or savings account on a monthly basis. The Authorization Form also provides all of the necessary information to process your payments in a timely and efficient manner.

FAQs

How do I sign up for EFT?
In order to sign up for Tufts Medicare Preferred EFT, complete an EFT Authorization Form (forms are available on our "Plan Documents" page or by calling Customer Relations). Please attach a voided check if you are making the deduction from your checking account or a voided deposit slip if the deduction will be taken from your savings account. Submit the application in the accompanying envelope to the Tufts Medicare Preferred Enrollment Department.

Will I be charged money to use EFT?
Tufts Medicare Preferred will not charge you to use the EFT payment option. However, your bank may impose a fee if there are insufficient or uncollected funds in your account.

How much money will be deducted from my bank account each month?
The amount of the EFT will be the equivalent of one month's plan premium. Plan premiums vary by county. Please see your Evidence of Coverage booklet located in your Membership Information packet or on the Plan Documents page for specific information.

Can I sign up for EFT if someone else is responsible for paying my bills?
Yes. The EFT Authorization Form may be filled out and signed by either the member or the person responsible for the payment. The signature on the form must match the account holder's name in order for the EFT form to be processed.

How will I know the amount that has been deducted from my account?
A monthly invoice will be sent to all EFT members confirming the EFT transaction amount. In addition, your EFT deduction will also be reflected in your monthly bank statement labeled "Medicare Preferred".

What if I don't have enough money in my account to pay the plan premium amount when it is due?
If an EFT transaction is returned to Tufts Medicare Preferred for insufficient funds or any other rejection from your bank, you will be required to pay your plan premium either by check or money order payable to "Tufts Health Plan Medicare Preferred" for the missed monthly payment. Your bank may also charge a fee if there are insufficient funds in your account. Tufts Medicare Preferred will make a second attempt the following month to withdraw the premium payment via EFT.

If a second attempt is unsuccessful, Tufts Medicare Preferred will terminate your EFT privilege and you will be placed back onto the standard coupon payment process. You will then be responsible for submitting current and future payments through check or money order. Please refer to the Evidence of Coverage for information on disenrollment for non-payment of plan premium. Once your account is current, you will have the opportunity to sign up for the EFT program again. However, you will need to submit a new EFT Authorization Form.

When will the monthly plan premium be taken from my account?
Your monthly plan premium will be withdrawn from your account on the 9th of every month for the current month's plan premium. If the 9th falls on a Saturday, Sunday or a holiday, the withdrawal will occur on the following business day.

After I sign up for EFT, how quickly will my first payment be withdrawn from my account?
Members who are determined eligible for the EFT process will receive a letter notifying them of their acceptance to the Tufts Medicare Preferred EFT program and their effective date.

Will I be required to sign up again if my plan premium changes?
No. If your plan premium changes, Tufts Medicare Preferred will notify you of the change and automatically deduct the correct plan premium from the designated account. You will see this new deduction on your next monthly invoice.

How do I let Tufts Medicare Preferred know about changes to my banking information? For example, if I have changed banks or my account number changes.
In order to change any EFT related information, please request a new EFT Authorization Form (forms are available on our "Plan Documents" page or by calling Customer Relations). Fill out a new EFT Authorization Form and the information will be processed accordingly.

How can I stop the automatic deduction of funds from my checking or savings account?
If you would like to cancel your Tufts Medicare Preferred EFT payment option, call Customer Relations.

Or write to us at:
Tufts Medicare Preferred
Attn: Premium Billing Department
705 Mount Auburn Street
Watertown, MA 02472

You must notify Medicare Preferred of your cancellation by the 8th of the month in order to discontinue EFT for the following month.

Who should I contact if I have questions about EFT?
For more information about the EFT payment option, please contact Tufts Medicare Preferred Customer Relations.