Health Insurance Scams: What You Need to Know

Health insurance scams can be sneaky and affect anyone, regardless of age or income. Scammers often target vulnerable individuals, such as the elderly or those with pre-existing conditions.

Be cautious of unsolicited phone calls or emails offering affordable health insurance plans. These calls are often from scammers trying to steal your personal and financial information.

Some health insurance scams involve fake websites or social media ads promising low-cost insurance plans. These plans may seem legitimate but are often just a way for scammers to get your money.

Legitimate health insurance companies will never ask you to pay for a plan over the phone or online. Always verify the authenticity of any health insurance offer before providing sensitive information or making a payment.

Government agencies don't call people out of the blue to ask for money or personal information. If someone claims to be from the government and asks for this, it's a scam.

You never need to pay for a new Medicare card, and Medicare will never call to say you'll lose coverage. This is a common scam.

Scammers try to sell you a fake medical discount plan, which is not a substitute for health insurance. Some plans may offer legitimate discounts, but others take your money and offer little in return.

The Affordable Care Act's official government site, HealthCare.gov, only asks for your monthly income and age to give you a price quote. Never enter personal financial information to get a quote.

Legitimate help with the Health Insurance Marketplace is free and won't ask for personal or financial information. If someone offers to help you for a fee, it's a scam.

Here are some warning signs to watch out for:

Phone scams are a common type of health insurance fraud in the US, costing the nation about $68 billion annually.

Scammers often use robocalls and text messages to target innocent people, and these calls tend to ramp up during open enrollment on healthcare.gov.

A third-party robocall scanner app like Robokiller can filter out and protect you from scam calls, and ensure that only the calls you want get through.

Common signs of health insurance scams include urgent, pushy sales pitches, claims of new healthcare reform perks or programs, suspect licensing, evasive answers, and "membership required" claims.

Here are some red flags to watch out for:

If you receive a suspicious health insurance call, the best thing you can do is hang up the phone. Then, spring into action:

If you think you may be a victim of health insurance fraud, take these steps to protect yourself:

Scammers can "spoof" or fake numbers to mimic people and organizations you trust, so be wary of familiar phone numbers. If you do answer, do not answer any questions.

Medicare scams are a common type of health insurance scam, where scammers pretend to be from the government to steal your money and personal information.

You might receive a call saying your Medicare coverage is about to be canceled, but this is a scam. The government will never call you to cancel your coverage.

Medicare Part D is an optional prescription drug insurance program, and scammers often target people with unsolicited offers of drug coverage. Don't share your information or pay them, as this is likely a scammer.

Here are some red flags to watch out for:

If you receive a debt collection notice, be cautious. Scammers will say you owe a bill in order to get your bank information and steal your money.

You will never need to pay for a new Medicare card, so if someone calls claiming otherwise, it's a scam. Legitimate Medicare cards are free.

Don't give your credit card or bank information to anyone over the phone that you don't know. This includes anyone claiming to be from Medicare or a debt collection agency.

Legitimate assistants, sometimes called Navigators or Assisters, are not allowed to charge you for help with the Marketplace. They're there to assist you for free.

Medicare is a vital part of healthcare for millions of Americans, but it's also a target for scammers. Medicare scams are a common occurrence, especially during open enrollment season, and they can be quite convincing.

If you receive a call saying your Medicare coverage is about to be canceled, it's likely a scam. Medicare will never contact you to cancel your coverage.

To verify a Medicare prescription drug plan provider, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or 1-877-486-2048 for TTY. This line is open 24 hours a day and can help you check if a provider is legitimate.

Don't fall for unsolicited offers of Medicare prescription drug plans. If someone contacts you, it's likely a scammer.

You have from October 15 to December 7 of every year to decide on a Medicare prescription drug plan for the following year. This is plenty of time to consider legitimate offers, and enrolling is not mandatory.

Here are some red flags to watch out for:

Medical discount plans can be a tempting option for those looking to save money on healthcare expenses, but it's essential to be cautious of scams. Medical discount plans are not a substitute for health insurance.

Some plans promise "discounts of up to 70%", but the actual savings are often much less than promised. Be wary of plans that use vague language like "up to" discounts.

You can check if a medical discount plan is legitimate by confirming the details with the providers on the plan's list. Call your doctors and others on the list before enrolling or paying any fees.

A legitimate plan should be willing to send you written information and give you time to check out their claims before you enroll. Don't sign up on the spot or fall for pressure to make a quick decision.

If someone calls you unexpectedly asking for your financial information, it's best to hang up. Scammers often use pitches for medical discount plans to get your personal information.

Here are some red flags to watch out for:

Don't be afraid to do your own research and ask questions. It's better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your health and finances.