Do
you receive a lot of faxes about cheap health insurance premiums?
Do you see signs plastered around your town from time to
time with statements like affordable health care for just
$89 per month, medical, dental and vision? Doesn't it make
you suspicious when you see these signs when most major employers
can't even get these premiums for a large employee group?
People in most cities have seen these offers in email, on
the internet, on signs around town, and by fax. According
to a consumer attorney who was interviewed on a major morning
talk show, he says these offers are health insurance scams.
These people come into town, they use a name similar to
a legitimate health care provider, and sign up hundreds of
thousands of people. They offer very low premiums but ask
for one years premium up front and they offer coverage despite
pre-existing conditions. Their target group is the elderly,
but individuals and employers of all types have been their
victims.
After signing up thousands of people, they pay on a few
small claims, and then they skip town and start over and
do the same in another area.
What can you do to protect yourself from such scams? First
of all, don't believe claims of unusually low premiums. Second,
don't buy insurance, a very serious item, from an individual
or company off email, fax, internet or a community sign.
Third, before you purchase health insurance from an individual
or a small company call your state department of insurance
or your state consumer affairs department to verify that
they are legitimate. You can find both of these through your
government website or contact your local government office
for the information. If you are a victim of such a scam contact
your local and state attorney generals office and your state
department of insurance.
If your employer does not offer insurance or you are self-employed
buy coverage through an association or organization you are
affiliated with. Such as graphic designers, architects, home-schoolers,
bookkeepers, dentist; these professions and many, many others
that are affiliated with small businesses offer affordable
and real insurance. Some of your local chamber of commerce
organizations also offer insurance. Contact major carriers
such as blue cross/blue shield to get quotes available for
individuals.
Whatever you do in the realm of insurance,
remember health care is extremely costly when you see extremely
low premiums
on signs ask yourself, how can one company offer such low
premiums when all others are much higher? Some of them even
claim they can cover medical, dental, and vision for the
ridiculously low premium of $89 per month or similar. Remember,
they choose names similiar to legitimate insurance carriers,
so beware.
Lois Center-Shabazz is the founder of MsFinancialSavvy.com
and author of the 3-time award-winning personal finance book,
Let's Get Financial Savvy! ISBN #0971979502.
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