IdahoReporter.com

The Idaho Department of Insurance (DOI) has issued a second warning about scam artists using the recently approved federal health care changes as a way to defraud consumers.  The department said that elderly people are the prime target of such scams.  A DOI news release encourages Idahoans to make sure insurance companies are registered with the state, and reminds people to be wary of door-to-door salesmen.

“Idahoans should be especially wary of door-to-door insurance sales, requests for immediate purchase of ‘limited enrollment’ federal health policies and other high-pressure sales tactics,” DOI Director Bill Deal said in the news release.  According to the department, Medicare officials will not show up at anyone’s door unannounced, and some con artists are illegally trying to sell phony “ObamaCare” insurance policies.

Read IdahoReporter.com‘s first story on the DOI’s warnings about insurance scams here.  The full DOI news release is below.

Beware of Scams Related to Health Insurance Reform

The Idaho Department of Insurance continues to receive information from industry and media sources across the nation that scam artists may be attempting to defraud consumers about the federal health insurance reforms.

Reports indicate that fake agents and sales people are posing as federal government employees and going door-to-door peddling phony health insurance policies. Elderly consumers are prime targets for these scams.

Department Director Bill Deal says, “Idahoans should be especially wary of door-to-door insurance sales, requests for immediate purchase of “limited enrollment” federal health policies and other high-pressure sales tactics.”

The Department has established a new page on their Web site, www.doi.idaho.gov,  that provides information and links about the health reform bill including a timeline of events. Consumers can view a list of frequently asked questions and submit their own questions from this page.

The Department offers the following tips to help consumers protect themselves from scams:

• Be leery of people who show up at your door unsolicited. Representatives from Medicare will never visit your home or make a call to you unless you request it.
• Health insurance policies are issued by companies and not through legislation. An “ObamaCare” insurance policy is bogus.
• Legitimate insurance agents should not pressure you or rush you into signing anything. They should not object to someone else being present during a sales pitch.
• Never give out personal information to strangers.

Always verify that an agent and company are licensed to do business in Idaho by calling the Department at 334-4250 in Boise or 800-721-3272 toll-free statewide, or by visiting the Web site, www.doi.idaho.gov.