Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois will not allow customers to use credit cards to purchase their own health insurance on or off the Illinois marketplace, according to the Chicago Tribune.
The policy, which won't affect consumers in group or Medicare markets, is effective June 1. Customers will still be able to use debit cards as payment.
The policy is one effect of a recent study from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, which found newly insured individual market patients are sicker and more expensive to insure than those who enrolled in coverage prior to 2014. Due to the study, BCBS is working harder to cut costs without compromising quality of care.
"Credit cards fees are a significant expense that impact all members, not just those who use credit as a payment option," said BCBS in an email, according to the report.
BCBS spokeswoman Jill Wolowitz declined to comment on how much the insurer spends on credit card fees, but said its plans in Oklahoma, New Mexico, Montana and Texas were adopting similar credit card-free policies.