How to protect yourself from fraud in the Health Insurance ... - DHHR

Contact:Allison Adler, Director of CommunicationsOffice: (304) 558-7899allison.c.adler@wv.govFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASESeptember 30, 2013How to Protect Yourself from Fraud in the Health Insurance MarketplaceYour best protection against fraud is you.CHARLESTON, W. Va. – West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources CabinetSecretary Karen Bowling today announced West Virginians may apply for health insurancethrough the Health Insurance Marketplace on HealthCare.gov or at any local DHHR office inWest Virginia starting October 1, 2013.A few simple things can protect consumers from fraud, while getting the coverage they need:Be informed about your health care choices. Visit HealthCare.gov to learn the basics aboutgetting health coverage. It’s the official Marketplace website. Compare insurance planscarefully before making your decision. If you have questions, call the Health InsuranceMarketplace call center at 1-800-318-2596. TTY users should call 1-855-889-4325. Look forofficial government seals, logos, or web addresses on materials you see in print or online.Know the Marketplace Open Enrollment dates – October 1, 2013, through March 31, 2014. Noone can enroll you in a health plan in the Marketplace until Open Enrollment begins or after itends unless you have special circumstances.Protect your private health care and financial information. No one should be asking foryour personal health information, like your health history, any health conditions you have, ormedical treatments you’ve received. Don’t give it to anyone. Keep personal and accountnumbers private. Don’t give your Social Security number or credit card or banking informationto companies you didn’t contact or in response to unsolicited advertisements. Never give yourpersonal health or financial information to someone who calls or comes to your home uninvited,even if they say they are from the Marketplace.Ask questions and verify the answers you get. The Marketplace has trained assisters inevery state to help you at no cost. You should never be asked to pay for services or help toapply for Marketplace coverage. Ask questions if any information is unclear. Write down andkeep a record of the name of a salesperson or anyone who may assist you, who he or sheworks for, telephone number, street address, mailing address, email address, and website.Double check any information that is confusing or sounds fishy. Don’t sign anything you don’tfully understand.When to report suspected fraud. It’s time to take action if someone you don’t know contactsyou about getting health insurance and asks you to pay or asks you for your personal financialor health information. Suspect fraud if someone contacts you claiming to be from the

government or Medicare and asks you to pay for a new “Obamacare” insurance card. Report itif you give your bank account information or Social Security number to someone who calls youand says they’re from the government.How to report suspected fraud. If you suspect identity theft, or feel like you gave yourpersonal information to someone you shouldn’t have, use the Federal Trade Commission’sonline Complaint Assistant.To learn more or to report fraud:1) Visit ww.ftc.gov/idtheft to learn more about identity theft.2) Contact your local police department.3) West Virginians can report suspected provider fraud to the Medicaid FraudControl Unit at 304-558-1858, 1-888-Fraud-WV (1-888-372-8398) orwww.wvdhhr.org/oig/mfcu/secRepFrd/. The Medicaid Fraud Control Unitinvestigates healthcare fraud committed by Medicaid providers and the criminalabuse, neglect and financial exploitation of vulnerable adults in healthcarefacilities.4) Fraud can also be reported to the W.Va. Insurance Commission at 304-558-5241.5) The Health Insurance Marketplace call center at 1-800-318-2596 to explain whathappened and your information will be handled appropriately.###