Ohio Insurance Director Warns of Healthcare-Related ID Scam

Ohio Lieutenant Governor and Insurance Director Mary Taylor issued an alert after reports surfaced that telephone con artists are attempting to steal Ohioans’ personal information using the Affordable Care Act (ACA) as a ploy.

The scammers are claiming to be representatives of a health insurance exchange, Medicare or a “government program,” according to Taylor.

“The Ohio Department of Insurance has been made aware of attempts to scam Ohioans by capitalizing on confusion around federal health care,” Taylor said. “No one from an official government program should be calling you requesting your personal information. If you are contacted by a suspicious caller, do not provide your personal information, including your Medicare, Social Security and bank account numbers.”

According to the insurance department, in Ohio scammers are:

• Claiming to be authorized to help people navigate the health insurance exchange created under the ACA and say they need to verify the person’s name, address and Social Security number. However, health insurance exchange open enrollment does not begin until Oct. 1. The marketing of plans offering coverage through the exchange has not begun.
• Claiming to be a Medicare representative and that because of the ACA the person’s information needs verified in order to receive a new Medicare card. The department clarified that new Medicare cards are not being issued because of the federal health care law.
• Claiming they need the person’s Medicare number to provide them an updated medical emergency alert device. One of the brand names mentioned was Lifeline. However, Medicare does not cover medical alert devices.

Source: Ohio Department of Insurance

Topics Ohio