Affordable health Insurance Scams Are on the Rise.

If something is too good to be true – you are probably right. As more and more people struggle with rising healthcare costs, and more and more are seeking affordable health insurance, there is a growing target for con men and scam artists. There never seems to be a lack of opportunistic and unscrupulous people who will take advantage of those who are the most vulnerable, and unfortunately complaints against fraudulent health insurance companies are on the rise.

Case in point, Marcy Quinn of Jacksonville Florida who recently discovered that the bargain she thought she found while shopping for reasonably priced health insurance wasn’t. Quinn thought she did her homework when shopping for low cost health insurance, she even checked with her doctor when she found a company online actually called “Affordable Healthcare Solutions.”

The company claimed to have a vast PPO network of providers available, and boasted low co-pays, and low premiums. The coverage was only about $140.00 a month for Quinn and her daughter.

There was no paperwork to fill out, no contract to sign, and the company guaranteed coverage. All of which should have been red flags to Quinn. But she enrolled in the program, and paid the initial fees and deposit. Yet the enrollment documents never arrived. When she called the “agent” she had been dealing with, he said he would “look into it”. When she called back again the next day – the number had been disconnected. The company “Affordable Healthcare Solutions” had an address in Nevada. When Quinn called the Nevada Insurance Commissioners office, no such company was licensed to sell insurance in the state. The company was bogus.

This was her biggest mistake, calling the Commissioner, after she suspected she had been duped. Every State has a Department of Insurance that licenses those companies that are legally able to sell health insurance in the state. Before signing documents or paying any fees to any insurance company or health plan, you should check with the State to see if they are indeed licensed. Even if they are licensed you can then further check for their rating, there are several companies and agencies that rate insurance companies, such as The AM Best Company.

According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, unfortunately Quinn’s experience is not uncommon. They say there are several signs to look for that indicate that you could be dealing with a fraudulent health plan. Such As:

• Guarantees of Coverage, with no medical check
• High Pressure Sales Techniques
• Very Low premiums with very generous benefits
• No limitations or Exclusions on the policy
• A non-refundable deposit

And while the internet can be a great resource for shopping for affordable medical insurance it is best to use a legitimate site  where you can get a free health insurance quote from a number of established and well known insurance companies, from an agency with a long history and proven track record.