Health Insurance Scams Hit Thousands
A recent unprecedented increase in unauthorized and illegal health insurance plans, spurred by rising health care costs and increasing numbers of uninsured, has left approximately 100,000 people with millions of dollars in medical debts and no coverage, according to a new report from The Commonwealth Fund.
Companies selling phony insurance collect premiums from enrollees but fail to pay health care providers. With no safety net, such as a state guaranty fund, to pay medical claims when these plans become insolvent, victims are often left with huge medical debts.
“These scams prey on people who are seeking access to affordable health insurance coverage,” said Karen Davis, president of The Commonwealth Fund. “Not only do we need better methods to identify and shut down illegal operations, we need to expand access to affordable coverage and reduce the demand that phony plans are exploiting.” (read the rest of this article…)