Scammers using Obamacare ploys

 
With Obamacare kicking in, scammers are busy trying to trick the elderly into giving banking or credit card information or Social Security numbers.

Some of the scams:

1.  You need a special card for Obamacare, and you are required to give the information or you won’t be covered. Don’t do it. There’s no such thing as a special card for Obamacare.

2.  The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded $67 million in grants to community organizations to help you sign up for coverage through  health care exchanges (also called marketplaces) when open enrollment starts Oct. 1. Scam artists are posing as community “navigators” to gather your personal information -- such as your Social Security number -- to try to steal your identity, or to sell you phony health insurance. Don’t do it. And don’t click on their web sites either. YOU find a navigator in your area through your state’s exchange so you’ll know you’re dealing with a legitimate outfit.

3.  Medicare beneficiaries receive calls from insurance agents -- or people posing as insurance agents -- telling them that they’re going to lose their Medicare benefits or access to their doctors because of Obamacare and that they should sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan instead. They either steal the person’s premiums entirely or get a commission from the sale. Don’t do it. Ask your doctor if he/she still is participating in Medicare or your Medicare Advantage plan before making any changes.

Best tactic: Ignore all calls that YOU didn’t initiate.

Beacon Journal retirees keep their same coverage when Obamacare kicks in so they don't need to do anything to keep their usual coverage.

To read the entire Kiplinger magazine article, click on http://www.kiplinger.com/article/insurance/T048-C001-S003-how-to-avoid-obamacare-scams.html