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Health Coverage Scams Proliferate
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h1>Seniors Are Most Often Targets
Since the passage of the healthcare bill, various scams have appeared, each peddled by dangerous and dishonest individuals who take advantage of the public's confusion regarding the new laws for health coverage.
These scam artists work hard to bully or frighten people into purchasing a fraudulent health coverage plan, and they use common misconceptions to do so.
First and foremost, no one is going to jail for not purchasing health coverage. Anyone who tells you this is the case is taking advantage of you.
Next, the majority of the mandates and laws pertaining to health insurance don't take effect until 2014. If someone is pushing you to purchase health coverage based on some form of "deadline," don't buy it.
Other things to look out for?
Door-to-door salespeople - health insurance can only be sold by professional companies and brokers licensed to sell coverage in your state. Don't allow traveling salespeople into your home, and don't give them your time or your money.
Health Coverage Without Brokers - don't offer any personal information unless you're speaking to a licensed broker. It's fine to enter or offer your zip code for websites that can show you health insurance quotes for your area, but in order to purchase coverage you must speak to a real, live person.
Medicare Shenanigans - You don't need to speak to any intermediaries when it comes to your Medicare rebates or benefits. If a stranger wants your personal information for some miraculous rebate that you've never heard of, it's too good to be true.
Unlicensed Salespeople - some companies are falsely claiming to be linked to, or part of, larger companies who sell health coverage in your area. If you haven't heard of them, or sense that the salesperson isn't giving you all the information you should be getting, hang up and contact your state's insurance department. They can tell you if you're dealing with a real insurance company.
Many of these scam artists are preying on older Americans and misrepresenting the healthcare bill. The AARP is a great resource for America's seniors who want to know more about how the healthcare bill will really affect them.
And for everyone else, it pays to be careful with your personal information, and speak only to someone who works for the health insurance company you have chosen for your coverage.
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