MIAMI – The U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary recently reported an increase in healthcare-related crime. Fraudsters are selling phony insurance policies using numerous underhanded tactics. According to a survey last fall of 37 states by the nonprofit Coalition Against Insurance Fraud, health insurance fraud has been on the rise. The organization reported that bogus health plans were the No. 1 reason for complaints.
To prevent tricksters from taking advantage of unwitting consumers, the Miami-Dade Consumer Services Department is warning people to be vigilant of these types of scams.
Common Rip-offs
· Limited enrollment offers. Some advertisements or individuals claim that you will be left without affordable healthcare insurance if you don’t buy their service right away. Such pressure tactics play on people’s fears about expensive medical care during the current economic downturn.
· Door-to-door salesmen. Dishonest individuals have been knocking on people’s doors or using telemarketing robo-calls urging consumers to obtain health insurance coverage that they claim is required by law from the federal government and available only for a limited time. Some sellers have been calling the plan ObamaCare.
· 1-800 false advertisements. National Public Radio reported that some commercials have appeared on cable programs in recent weeks persuading viewers to call an 800 number to take advantage of a “limited enrollment” period to obtain coverage available “now that historic healthcare legislation has passed.”
· Generous benefits. If the benefits sound too good to be true, it’s probably a scam. Shop around and see what other insurance providers offer and their price.
· Discount medical cards. Know the difference between health insurance and discount health or medical “cards.” Many companies are selling so-called discount health cards to consumers seeking affordable healthcare. Usually for a monthly fee, the cards claim to save subscribers money by offering discounts on physician visits, hospital stays, prescription drugs, dental work, eyecare and other treatment. However, discount health cards can be confusing because they are not insurance. You still must pay the medical bills yourself. These cards simply offer lower prices on services that accept these discounts.
Consumer Smarts
· No government health insurance program called ObamaCare exists. No federal employees are acting as salesmen, either on your doorstep or your telephone. There is currently no penalty for not having health insurance.
· Don’t give your personal information to anyone asking for it. It should raise a red flag to you if someone asks for your bank account number, social security or other identifying information in order to qualify for the supposed federal health insurance program. If you hear that pitch, shut the door or hang up the telephone and call the state insurance department.
· Never respond to a high pressure — “buy now!” — sales pitch.
· Never buy a policy without getting all the promises and details in writing and verifying whether the physicians, hospitals and other providers associated with it are legitimate.
· Contact the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation to confirm the provider is licensed (850) 413-3140.
· Check the complaint history of the provider by calling the Miami-Dade Consumer Services Department at (305) 375-3677 and researching the provider on the Better Business Bureau’s website, http://www.bbb.org.
More information about the new legislation called, The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, can be found online at http://www.floir.com/FederalHCReform.aspx.
For additional consumer tips, or to check the complaint history of a company, file a complaint or ask consumer-related questions, visit the Miami-Dade Consumer Services Department website at www.miamidade.gov/csd or call (305) 375-3677.
