Health Insurance Exchange Scam: How It Works
The Affordable Care Act – also known as Obamacare in the US – has caused a great deal of confusion for all who are affected by the changes in health insurance coverage requirements. Many people are nowadays being targeted by scammers trying to take advantage of the confusion generated by this controversial legislation. Insurance scams 101. Let's see.
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The scam involves callers identifying themselves as government program officials or representatives of Medicare or a health insurance exchange. They are asking citizens to verify personal identifying information such as their bank account information, social security number and Medicare ID, in order to facilitate a health insurance exchange or to issue them with a new Medicare ID card.
Criminals are also presenting themselves as part of a Medicare program that provides life alert systems to the elderly – a program that does not exist. But the underlying reason for the call is to gain access to personal information, leading to identity theft. But that's not all.
Watch the video below to see a different kind of Obamacare insurance scam pulled by companies:
How To Avoid The Affordable Care Act Scam
Here is where the scammers took advantage of confused people about the enrollment and qualifications, so be aware not to pay any fees to unknown individuals or organizations. On the other hand, there are no Medicare programs that cover or provide life alert systems to the elderly. In fact, Medicare does not cover such systems under their policies.
It is also important to remember that government program representatives or Medicare representatives will never make house calls to individuals. Receiving such a call is a definite red flag that the caller is a scammer. Also, do not ever give any caller your personal identifying information such as social security numbers, Medicare or bank account numbers.
How to report the Affordable Care Act scam:
Make your family and friends aware of this scam by sharing it on social media using the buttons provided. You can also officially report the scammers to the Federal Trade Commission using the link below:
Report Scammers To The FTC Here
How to protect yourself more:
If you want to be the first to find out the most notorious scams every week, feel free to subscribe to the Scam Detector newsletter here. You'll receive periodical emails and we promise not to spam. Last but not least, use the Comments section below to expose other scammers.
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United Healthcare is a scam they scam me out of $491 and they only paid $64 on the health bill… they was supposed to pay the whole bill not just $64 …..
Called from someone, Carlos, said he represented UnitedHealthcare and that someone at my house told them sometime last month that we were interested in home care services. Told him not interested and hung up. I’m sure this is a scam.
Just received a call. They claimed they were calling from a medical device company… Scary thing is they knew I had recently had foot surgery (as they referenced boot I was given) and also the doctors name!!! They wanted me to verify my insirance info to bill the boot…I directed them to call the doctor…. They were persistent but I told them i wouldn’t provide that info.
I received a call this morning of a different sort. The woman claiming to be from an advocacy group was offering a new topical pain medicine that is safer and more effective than the NSAIDS and other harmful pills on the market. She said it would be free to me if I qualified, and that it would go through my insurance company if my doctor approved. She asked for my health card info. I saw a red flag and asked for her information, company website, phone number, etc. She would only identify herself as Valerie (ID# 1005) and the company as "United Health Associates" which I couldn’t find online. She said there is no website and no phone number I can call. I told her I would call my insurance company to verify what she was doing and she could call me back at a later date. My insurance company said this is a scam, and I should never give out my health information on the phone unless I am 100% of whom I am speaking to and why. I tried calling this woman back on the number that came up on the phone ID, but I couldn’t get through to anyone. It is 610 572 4626. I can’t find any info on this number online.
Edmond, OK. Wife received a call (female, heavy Indian accent) wanting information about our son. Stated that it was regarding a brace he received when he broke his leg two months ago. Stated they received our phone number from a doctor, but couldn’t state which one. My wife asked them to send us information and we would review it. Came here and found the scam they are doing. Phone number was 513-830-0881.
Houston, Texas today 11/7/14~~This is the number 513-830-0881 Cincinnati, OH. This number has already called me twice on my cell phone this morning and I have not answered… Are these people crazy or what?? Where should we report? FTC, FBI?? They have left no messages and its a good thing because I am a hot tempered Italian/Texan!!
There are insurance scammers claiming to represent the GE Health Plans with various providers, and telling people their GE health plans "will expire in December" and that they need to "choose a new provider". When confronted, as my daughter did with them, they yelled at her and hung up. There is a company in Bloomington IN, called "Bloom Marketing", a division of Finelight, that sells insurance over the phone and tries to get seniors to change their plans. We don’t know if it is them, or someone else. But we called United Healthcare, that handles my GE Pension Plan and insurance, and they said they were NOT changing plans in December, they were NOT sending out letters to that affect, and everything the phone telemarketers said was a lie. I told them when she confronted these people, and asked to talk to a Supervisor, they yelled and hung up on her. Here’s the number, so watch out for them: Caller I.D. says "800 Service" and the number is 855-873-0103
I have been receiving numerous call here in Texas in the last several days. Always a woman with thick Indian accent asking me questions regarding health insurance. Already had my PCP info, my address. Asking me personal questions regarding my health. Asking me if I had pain. She never got past that question because I told her none of this was her business. Very persistent as they have called back numerous times in the same day. This has been going on for approx. 3 days so far.
Also in FL, I got called and a man with a thick indian accent left a message about health insurance and how they were missing some information on my son. I immediately knew it was a scam. I called back and all I got was some music that was on repeat. I’ve "googled" this number and many people have the same experience. This is the number 513-830-0881 Cincinnati, OH
also occurring in CT On Tuesday June 4, 2013 received the same phone scam as JOE. The caller had an Indian accent,medicare card, already had my name address and phone number asked for bank account where I have ssa direct deposit.After saying Ido not give that out the caller hung up. Want to report other than calling and waiting.the caller ID was incoming call.
Also occurring in CA! Caller had an Indian accent, was somewhat belligerent when questioned ("Well, do you want your new card or not?), and already had my name, address and phone number. I called MediCare, and they assured me it was a total scam, and that they would never use a phone call for personal business. Also I called the Federal Trade Comission. P.S. Both MediCare and the FTC will put you on hold for a lenghly period, so a speaker phone is helpful.