Per BCBST, even the 1st on-Exchange premium has a 30 day grace period. No claims paid until premium received and effective date would be in this case 1/1.
That won't matter in this case. He's just tying down insurance hoping something better becomes available. I told him to have the money available and someone aware and authorized to actually implement payment for him. It would be a mistake to be in the hospital and lapse the policy because there was no one to pay the premium.