Fall 2022 billing reminders
NAU Country has updated several of our billing processes in 2022, and the Risk Management Agency (RMA) has also offered an interest deferral due to drought conditions. With these changes in place, we want to ensure you and your farmers are prepared with resources, we’ve put together the following items to assist this billing season.
Deferral of Interest
The Risk Management Agency (RMA) recognized the challenges America's farmers and ranchers have faced in light of recent and ongoing drought conditions and released MGR-22-005 on July 13, 2022. This bulletin allows Approved Insurance Providers (AIPs), such as NAU Country, to defer interest on MPCI and Livestock premium and fees. Interest will be waived for an additional 60 days for premiums with a billing date between August 1, 2022, and September 30, 2022. NAU Country will also waive interest on Crop-Hail and Named Peril policies until December 1, 2022. A note is included and will be added to the August, September, and October 2022 billing statements informing insureds of this action.
- Billing date 8/15/2022 - premium postmarked by 11/30/2022
- Billing date 9/01/2022 - premium postmarked by 11/30/2022
Payment for ALL premium with a Debt Termination deadline date between November 1, 2022, and November 30, 2022, must be postmarked by the Debt Termination date to avoid cancellation of coverage and placement on the Ineligible Tracking System (ITS).
Debt Termination Dates in November are:
- November 1, 2022
- November 15, 2022
- November 20, 2022
- November 30, 2022
NAU Country has also made the decision for 2022, to defer interest on our Crop-Hail and Named Peril policies, as long as, the premium payment is postmarked by November 30, 2022.
The deferral of interest does not change the Debt Termination date for coverages that have a November 1, November 15, or November 20 termination date. These premiums must be postmarked by the termination deadline date.
There are four options available to make a payment. Three of these options are available in the Account Billing Summary window on our Farmer Portal.
- Online Bill Pay consists of two options!
- Enroll = Farmers can conveniently pay their monthly statement or set up future payments in our Online Pay system.
- One-Time Payment = Farmers can submit a payment for the current billing statement online.
- Pay by Phone = Consists of two options!
- Utilize our Interactive Voice Response (IVR) feature to pay your bill via phone at 1.866.350.7603. The system will guide you through the steps for a successful payment from your checking or savings account.
- Call us! We can take a payment via a phone call if you would prefer speaking to an NAU Country Representative. Please Note: We can only process checks.
- Pay by Mail = Farmers can detach the payment coupon at the bottom of their recent statement, include their premium payment, and send to the address provided in the Print by Mail pop-up window.
Paying bills by mail - Lockbox address
All premium payments should be mailed to the following address:
NAU Country Insurance Company
PO Box 734297
Chicago, IL 60673
As of July 2021, the former lockbox in Minneapolis, MN, is no longer forwarding mail to the Chicago, IL, address. NAU Country has received phones calls regarding returned premium payments that were mailed to the former lockbox. If you receive calls regarding the returned premium, please have your farmers include the original envelope when submitting payment. This would be used as documentation for interest reversal or possible debt termination of timely payments.
With the deadline of the deferral of interest on November 30, 2022, we suggest that you have your farmers mail their premium payments 15 days prior to November 30, 2022.
Paying bills online
If your farmers are paying online using NAU Country’s online payment system, make sure your farmers have accessed and registered on the Farmer Portal ahead of the Billing Due Date. Our Farmer Portal requires individuals to verify their identity when they log in. (See Farmer – Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) User Guide below). With the new security changes (including Multi-factor Authentication (MFA)) to our login process and high volumes of online payments, these could create issues for users accessing their accounts, or our online payment system could become slow. Don't wait! Have your farmers log into the Farmer Portal today to ensure they are registered properly and have access to pay their bills online.
Don’t have a Farmer Account with NAU Country? Learn how to assist your farmers here!
Paperless Billing Option!
NAU Country has a convenient and clutter-free solution with Paperless Billing Statements. Paperless billing eliminates extra paper mail, while also helping the environment, and did we mention it cuts back on the clutter? By going paperless, your farmers will receive a billing notification via email, and can access their statement by utilizing our free online Farmer Portal.
If your policyholder is not signed up for Paperless Billing, they will receive the standard mailed billing statement. A brochure with details about Paperless Billing will be included with this statement. Instructions are included on how to sign up and enroll. NOW is the time to talk to your policyholders on how to sign up for a Farmer Portal account and our Paperless Billing option!
How does Paperless Billing work?
Once Billing Statements are generated, your farmer will be sent an email notification letting them know that a billing statement is available for viewing on the Farmer Portal. The Farmer Portal opening page displays their current amount due, along with a link to view their detailed Billing Statement. That’s not all! They can view their statement and pay their bill, all in one location! Take advantage of the simplicity and convenience!
Agents! Access our Paperless Billing Tips and Tricks to learn more.
Farmers! Access our Paperless Billing Tips and Tricks to learn more.
Paying bills with check by phone
In addition, NAU Country provides the ability to assist with premium payments by offering Check by Phone. Use the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) feature! The system will guide you through the steps for a successful payment from your checking or savings account.
- To make a payment, farmers will need to have their crop insurance billing statement account number, in addition to their bank routing and account number.
- Call our interactive phone payment system at 1.866.350.7603.
- The automated NAU Country phone system will process payment by checking or savings account.
- Payments must be made by 11 p.m. CT to be postmarked the same day.
- NAU Country does not accept credit cards.
We can all appreciate the comfort of speaking to a knowledgeable representative. Call us! During business hours, our Accounting Department Representatives are willing to assist with your payments via phone!
- To make a payment, farmers will need to have their crop insurance billing statement account number, in addition to their bank routing and account number.
- Contact NAU Country’s Accounting Department at 1.763.486.1711 or Toll Free at 1.800.942.6557 ext. 1711.
- One of our representatives will process a check by phone.
- This service is only available during business hours.
- NAU Country does not accept credit cards.
Due to the volume of calls, we would prefer that payments are made prior to November 30, 2022.
Need help or more information?
If you have any additional questions, please contact the Accounting Department.
NAU Country Accounting Department:
Toll Free: 1.800.942.6557 ext. 1711
Email: accounting@naucountry.com
Additional Resources:
NAU Country offers several resources in our public website News Stories and Tips and Tricks through the portal. Please review at your convenience for detailed step-by-step instructions to help answer your questions.
- NAU Country News Story: So many ways to pay!
- Help your farmer pay bills online or check by phone - Agent Tips and Tricks
- NAU Country keeps your accounts secure - News Story
- Agent - Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) User Guide
- Farmer - Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) User Guide
- Quick Reference Guide - Save Time, Pay your Bill Online Instructions
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Access and review our Paperless Billing Enrollment Tips and Tricks for more information and for tips on how to manage which policyholders have signed up for this service.
- How to create a Farmer Portal Account
- Farmer Portal linking accounts - Agent Tips and Tricks
- Farmer Portal linking accounts - Farmer Tips and Tricks