| > | | | | resemble well known household names but which, |
| Health insurance fraud is a particularly nasty form | | | | on close inspection, are found to be spelt slightly |
| of fraud and one which affects thousands of | | | | differently. If you are not sure about the |
| policy holders, often without the individual even | | | | company but feel that it might be genuine then |
| knowing that he or she is a victim. So how can | | | | check with your State Insurance Commission to |
| you avoid health insurance fraud? | | | | see if they are aware of the company and, more |
| Hundred of us fall victim to medical health | | | | importantly, have licensed it to sell insurance in |
| insurance fraud every day and the problem for | | | | your state. |
| most of us is that it can be very difficult to spot | | | | Thirdly, if you receive an offer which appears to |
| until it is too late. In most cases it is not until you | | | | be genuine you should read through it in its |
| come to make a claim which is denied that you | | | | entirety and pay close attention to any fine print. |
| discover that you have joined the growing list of | | | | Even if the offer is genuine, it is the fine print |
| people who have been victims of this particularly | | | | which covers such things as exclusions, which |
| nasty form of fraud. | | | | may transform an apparently good offer into a |
| One of the problems with health insurance fraud is | | | | very costly one. |
| that there are many different forms of fraud | | | | Forth, if a salesperson calls with an offer and asks |
| perpetrated today and some of these are very | | | | you either to pay in cash or to pay the full |
| cleverly carried out and extremely difficult to | | | | amount of any premium up front then you this is |
| spot. There are however a number of things that | | | | almost certainly a case of fraud. |
| you can do to help protect yourself. | | | | These are just a few of the steps that you can |
| First, you should always be wary of any health | | | | take to protect yourself against medical health |
| insurance plan which offers you excellent | | | | insurance fraud. Perhaps the best answer |
| coverage at a very low cost. Medical bills have | | | | however lies in only ever purchasing a health |
| been rising consistently for some considerable | | | | insurance plan from a well established and |
| time now and health insurance, in whatever form | | | | reputable company with a sound track record. |
| you purchase it, is not a cheap item. So, if you | | | | Remember too that there is perhaps nothing |
| are offered a plan at a price which seems too | | | | better than a personal recommendation from |
| good to be true then the chances are that it is | | | | somebody you know and trust. So, if you have a |
| not true. | | | | friend or family member who has a plan with a |
| Second, you should be especially suspicious of | | | | particular company and has had a good |
| unsolicited mail which offers you discounted health | | | | experience of dealing with that company, including |
| insurance and your suspicions should be | | | | making claims against their plan, then this is one of |
| heightened if this offer comes from a company | | | | the best places to start your own search for |
| whose name you do not recognize. Fraudsters | | | | sound health insurance. |
| are especially adept at using names which closely | | | | |