Health insurance scams are increasingly prevalent as the federal government rolls out health care reforms. AARP, an advocacy group for people over 50, warned that con artists try to trick people into thinking that the health reform bill requires them to buy health insurance or go to jail. No one will go to jail for not having coverage, and the requirement that all Americans must have health insurance does not start until 2014, said the group in a fall 2010 article.
Various scams target the elderly and the unemployed, so it’s good to keep an eye out for red flags when anyone tries to sell you health insurance, discounts, cards, or rebates, according to the AARP. Below are some warning signs of dishonesty:
Door-to-door salespeople: Watch out for door-to-door salespeople who try to sell you insurance. Don’t be swayed by a salesperson’s sense of urgency or threats.
Discount cards: Don’t fall for discount plans or cards that claim to give you a discount on your existing medical insurance. Recently, states have been cracking down on groups that sell these “discounts”: 24 states have filed lawsuits to stop this practice, according to CBS News.
Solicitations through fax, email, or phone: Beware if someone wants to sell you insurance through these means – it’s usually spam.
Medicare rebates: Never give personal information, including Medicare information and Social Security numbers, to callers or solicitors promising you new cards, a speedy Medicare rebate, or other benefits. Always be wary of giving out personal information over the phone or internet, unless you initiated the contact. The AARP said there is no reason to use an intermediary to apply for benefits or rebates.
Solicitations from “official-sounding” organizations: Some scams use the names of organizations illegally or say they are part of an organization that doesn’t exist. Make sure to confirm with your state insurance department that the organization is legitimate before buying from them. If you sense that you are being or about to be defrauded, report the people or the organization to your state insurance commissioner, attorney general, or local police.
Various scams target the elderly and the unemployed, so it’s good to keep an eye out for red flags when anyone tries to sell you health insurance, discounts, cards, or rebates, according to the AARP. Below are some warning signs of dishonesty:
Door-to-door salespeople: Watch out for door-to-door salespeople who try to sell you insurance. Don’t be swayed by a salesperson’s sense of urgency or threats.
Discount cards: Don’t fall for discount plans or cards that claim to give you a discount on your existing medical insurance. Recently, states have been cracking down on groups that sell these “discounts”: 24 states have filed lawsuits to stop this practice, according to CBS News.
Solicitations through fax, email, or phone: Beware if someone wants to sell you insurance through these means – it’s usually spam.
Medicare rebates: Never give personal information, including Medicare information and Social Security numbers, to callers or solicitors promising you new cards, a speedy Medicare rebate, or other benefits. Always be wary of giving out personal information over the phone or internet, unless you initiated the contact. The AARP said there is no reason to use an intermediary to apply for benefits or rebates.
Solicitations from “official-sounding” organizations: Some scams use the names of organizations illegally or say they are part of an organization that doesn’t exist. Make sure to confirm with your state insurance department that the organization is legitimate before buying from them. If you sense that you are being or about to be defrauded, report the people or the organization to your state insurance commissioner, attorney general, or local police.
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