Watch out for health insurance scammers
Nov 12, 2024
INDIANAPOLIS - As open enrollment arrives and Americans shop for health insurance plans, security watchdogs are warning all of us to be on the lookout for health insurance fraud.
The open enrollment period for Marketplace health insurance runs from Nov. 1 to Jan. 15. It allows people to shop for health insurance among private companies under the Affordable Care Act.
According to the Scamicide Scam-of-the-Day blog, fraudsters are already contacting people by phone, text, email and social media, posing as legitimate companies and offering to sell health insurance plans. Some are putting fake ads on social media that use deepfake technology to make it look like a celebrity endorsed their plan. Sometimes, they’ll pose as marketplace officials, asking for payment by cash or cryptocurrency.
The one sure way to avoid these scams is to not respond to an unsolicited phone call, text or email trying to sell you a plan. You should also avoid clicking on a link in an ad you see online--you just can’t know which ones to trust these days.
If you’re shopping for a new policy, or you want to change policies, you can go right to the official marketplace website or call them at 1-800-318-2596. You can also use the marketplace’s online directory to get in touch with a local navigator.