Koster warns of possible health care exchange scams

Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster and the Missouri Hospital Association have teamed up to warn Missourians about possible scams surrounding health care exchanges that go into effect Oct. 1.

As part of the Affordable Care Act, the insurance marketplace, commonly referred to as exchanges, are slated to provide options for private health insurance coverage to comply with the law's minimum coverage requirement.

“As with any new system, scam artists may prey upon consumers who are attempting to comply with the law,” Koster said in the release. “My concern is that scammers will use the insurance coverage enrollment period opening on Oct. 1 as an opportunity to commit fraud.”

A large concern, according to MHA President and CEO Herb Kuhn, is consumers will be tricked into providing personal information - which is required to enroll in exchanges - to those who aren't actually helping them enroll in the marketplace.

“Scammers may trick consumers using phony websites, mailings, calls or visits to the home,” Kuhn said in the release. “We want Missourians to be on the lookout for fraudsters asking consumers to provide personal information or to take steps that are not actually required.”

Koster and the MHA offer the following tips:

• beware of people asking for money to enroll in exchanges, Obamacare, etc.;
• check credentials;
• only provide personal information if you start the contact; and
• watch out for fake products.

Suspected fraud can be reported to the Federal Trade Commission via FTC.gov/complaint.[[In-content Ad]]