Scammers play on health care law confusion

[July 30, 2013]  OAK PARK -- The Affordable Care Act has attracted a lot of media attention and many misconceptions about what it does and does not do. Anytime there is a big change or public confusion, scammers will jump on that confusion, says a recent "Fraud Alert" from AgeOptions, a nonprofit organization. Scammers are calling people and saying that they must sign up for health insurance because of the ACA, the announcement says. It warns that these scammers are trying to get your personal information. Do not give it to them.

Here a few facts to remember if anyone contacts you about insurance:

• The Affordable Care Act will create a health insurance marketplace for people who are currently uninsured to buy health insurance.

• Enrollment in the marketplace starts Oct. 1, not before, and is only for people who do not currently have health insurance.

• If you are on Medicare, Medicaid or other insurance, you will not need to change anything even when the marketplace is available, because you already have health insurance.

• You will not need a new Medicare or Medicaid card.

For more on The Affordable Care Act and the health insurance marketplace, visit www.healthcare.gov.

If anyone claims to be from your insurance and calls for your personal information, hang up and verify by calling the number that you have for your insurance company or 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) if you have Medicare.

For a news story and interview with Lois Greisman of the Federal Trade Commission about these scams related to the Affordable Care Act, visit http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/07/09/
196231/sick-scams-prey-on-obamacare-
confusion.html.

[Text from AgeOptions file received from the Illinois attorney general's office]