Humana Healthy Options Card for Spectrum bill - processing time question

Disclaimer: The question below was submitted by a reader. Names have been anonymized. The information provided is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice. Individual circumstances vary, and readers should contact their service provider directly or consult a qualified professional for advice specific to their situation.

Michael, Florida October 13, 2023

I am going to be using my Humana Healthy Options Card to pay my next Spectrum bill, as I do for my FPL Electric bill, my question is, I get the funds on the 20th of each month and my Spectrum bill is due on the 26th, it usually takes ten days for it to process, will I get a late charge if it's 4-5 days late?

ConnectCalifornia followed up with Michael requesting more information

ConnectCalifornia Expert October 13, 2023

Hi Michael, good question about the Humana card timing. To give you the most accurate answer, could you share a bit more context? How long have you been using the Humana card for other bills, and what's the typical processing time you've experienced? Also, what's your current Spectrum bill amount? This will help us assess whether the timing will work and if there are any alternatives worth considering.

Michael, Florida October 14, 2023

I should add some context: I've been using the Humana card for about six months now for various utility bills with good results. The processing time varies between 7-12 days depending on the vendor. I've never had an issue with FPL, but I wanted to make sure Spectrum handles these benefit card payments the same way before I commit to this payment method. My current Spectrum bill is $67.99 for internet only.

ConnectCalifornia Expert October 15, 2023

Good news: you should be fine. Spectrum has what’s essentially a built-in grace period of about two weeks after your due date before they start adding consequences. A payment that arrives 4-5 days late isn’t going to trigger late fees or service interruption.

That said, there are a couple things worth knowing. First, your account will technically show as “past due” during those days, which can be annoying if you log in and see warning messages. Don’t let that stress you out - it’s just how their system flags things.

Second, if you want to avoid the timing dance entirely, you can call Spectrum and ask them to move your due date. Explain that your payment source arrives on the 20th and ask if they can shift your billing cycle so the due date lands around the 1st instead. Most companies can do this, and it gives you a bigger cushion.

The Humana card processing time is the variable here, so if it’s consistently taking 7-12 days, building in that buffer with a later due date would make things simpler. Given your bill is $67.99, you might also want to check if you qualify for any assistance programs that could reduce that amount.

Outcome: Resolved

Michael successfully paid his October Spectrum bill using the Humana card. The payment processed in 9 days and posted to his account on November 4th - within Spectrum's grace period. He decided to call and move his due date to the 5th of each month for extra buffer going forward.

Updated November 06, 2023

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