Temporary Healthcare Cost Assistance

Carewell SEIU 503 offers Healthcare Cost Assistance (HCA) benefits.

Healthcare Cost Assistance benefits help eligible care providers pay:

  • Monthly net premiums for individual health plan (medical) insurance that is Carewell approved and offered through the federal or a  state-based health insurance Marketplace.
  • Eligible out-of-pocket medical expenses through the end of the calendar year, up to $8,000 in 2026.

If you want to enroll in a Marketplace plan, you usually need to wait until Open Enrollment (November 1 to December 15). However, you may be eligible for temporary Healthcare Cost Assistance if:

  • You become eligible for Carewell SEIU 503 benefits (Dental, Vision and Hearing, and an Employee Assistance Program) after the end of the last Open Enrollment period, AND
  • You are enrolled in a non-approved plan* through a health insurance Marketplace.

This means you may receive monthly medical premium reimbursements up to $728 per month in 2026 and help paying eligible out-of-pocket medical expenses through the end of the calendar year.

* For more information about Carewell SEIU 503 Healthcare Cost Assistance benefits and to review the list of approved plans click here.

Approved plans for the upcoming year are published on the website in late October or early November at the start of Open Enrollment.

To keep receiving Carewell SEIU 503 HCA benefits after the end of the year, you must enroll in a
Carewell-approved plan at the first opportunity and no later than Open Enrollment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much of my premiums does this benefit cover?

If you qualify, you receive reimbursement for your monthly net premium, up to $728 per month.

How do I apply?

To receive medical premium reimbursements, you must submit the following each month:

  • A medical premium reimbursement request.
  • Proof of individual medical insurance coverage, including the care provider’s name, the gross premium, Advance Premium Tax Credit (APTC) if applicable, net premium, the plan effective date, and the name of anyone else covered by the plan.
  • Proof of enrollment, such as an invoice from the insurance carrier.
How do premium reimbursements work?

Every month, you must pay your insurance carrier directly for your monthly premium. Once you receive your premium bill, submit a medical premium reimbursement request to Carewell SEIU 503 with a copy of the bill and proof of enrollment.

You must submit the medical premium reimbursement request and required documents each month. When all required documents are processed and approved, Carewell SEIU 503 sends premium reimbursements by check or by direct deposit.

Sign up to get your premium reimbursements through direct deposit. This is the fastest and safest way to get your payment. Log in to MyCarewell503:

  • Under the main menu on the top left of the page, click on “Other Preferences and Forms”
  • Then click “Preferred payment”

How do I request a medical premium reimbursement?

Log in to MyCarewellSEIU503:

  • Click the “Request Payment and Reimbursements” icon under Quick Links at the bottom right of the page.
  • Then click “Premium Reimbursement” from the menu on left, select the month, and upload your proof of enrollment.
What about out-of-pocket expenses?

Care providers receiving HCA benefits are mailed a Benefit Convenience Card (BCC) from Ameriflex. While you can’t use the BCC for premium payments until you enroll in a Carewell-approved plan, you can use the BCC for covered out-of-pocket medical expenses, up to $8,000 in 2026. The BCC can be used at doctors’ offices, pharmacies, and other medical provider locations to pay amounts owed for services covered under a health plan, such as:

  • Deductibles
  • Copayments
  • Coinsurance
  • Prescriptions