As if the recent 20–25% rate hikes on ACA plans weren’t enough, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) has introduced a new way to impact your bottom line. Starting in the 2026 plan year, BCBSTX is enforcing administrative fees for late and returned payments.
At Holloway Benefit Concepts, we want to ensure you keep your hard-earned money. These fees are essentially 100% profit for the carrier—don’t let them take more than they already do.
The Breakdown: New Fees
These changes apply to all fully insured employer groups as they move into their 2026 plan year.
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Late Payment Fee: 1% of total charges
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Applied every month when the payment is not posted by the due date. Over a full year, this adds up to a 12% increase in premium costs.
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NSF Fee: $30 per instance
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Applied whenever a payment is returned due to insufficient funds.
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The Math: If your group consistently pays late, you are effectively adding 12% in additional premium costs over the year.
How to Protect Your Business
You can completely avoid these unnecessary costs by refining your billing workflow. We recommend the following:
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Audit Your Timeline: Ensure payments are submitted early enough to post by the due date.
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Set Up Auto-Pay: Use the BCBS employer portal or your financial institution to automate the process.
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Verify Contacts: Confirm that the person responsible for your accounting is receiving and reviewing invoices promptly.
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Check Balances: Verify funding before any scheduled ACH withdrawals to avoid the $30 NSF hit.
We’re Here to Help
If you need assistance reviewing your invoices or setting up a more predictable billing cycle, reach out to us. We can walk you through the portal or help you coordinate with your accounting team to ensure you never pay a dime in extra fees.
Don’t give BCBS more of your profit. Stay on top of your billing, and let us know if you need a hand!
Ryan Holloway
Holloway Benefit Concepts
