Courtesy of Mish.
Rick Newman, writing for Yahoo!Finance Exchange says Obamacare Could Be a Fraudsters’ Free-For-All
Have any idea where to find a health insurance exchange? Up to speed on what a healthcare “navigator” is? Know whether you’ll need a new government-issued ID card to qualify for Obamacare when it goes live on October 1?
Scam artists hope you’re as clueless as possible, because they’re counting on widespread confusion about the Affordable Care Act to tap fresh opportunities for milking the unwary.
Scams are nothing new, but three factors make the Affordable Care Act a uniquely rich opportunity. First, the law affects nearly every American in some way, since it requires most people to have health care coverage. Second, it won’t be standardized nationwide, the way Medicare and Social Security are, since states have the freedom to administer the law in different ways. Third, the law is brutally complex, which has sown confusion even among health care experts. The result is a sweeping new law that’s shrouded in confusion and varies based on where you live, which is an invitation for abuse.
The proper response to fraudulent marketing, of course, is to hang up, delete or slam the door and then contact the FTC. But Obamacare comes with a few wrinkles that make it a bit harder to tell who’s legit and who’s bogus. The law, for instance, requires each health-insurance exchange to develop a network of “navigators” whose role is “to educate the public about qualified health plans, distribute information on enrollment and tax credits, facilitate enrollment, and provide referrals on grievances, complaints, or questions.” Among other things, navigators will make sure people know they need insurance, and help enroll them in Obamacare if necessary.
Network of “Navigators” = Network of Fraud
Newman cited several instances where “navigator” had an icon for “healthcare.gov” that instead landed on a page where people could get “navigator help” for $40.
One site was shut down, two others changed the logo following complaints. But $40 is small potatoes compared to those out to steal your personal information and credit cards.
Overseas operators have already started their phone calls.
HealthCare.Gov
For those interested, here’s the real link to HealthCare.Gov. Plan and cost information will be available October 1.
I went through a series of questions that I answered honestly. Here was the bottom-line result for me: Don’t expect to save any money.
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