Beware Of Health Insurance Fraud (NAPSA)—Don’t get fooled when you wantto get covered. Faced with tight budgets and rising medical costs, many Americansare looking for affordable health insurance. But consumers who optfor so-called “medical discount plans” may not get the protection they think they’re payingfor. A survey conducted by the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud found that 57 percent of state fraud bureaus reported a higher incidence of health insur- ance fraud in 2009 compared to the year before. The increase was The best way to protect yourself when shopping for health insur- ance coverage is to purchase attributed in part to the rise of medical discount plans. These products often promise your plan through a reputable prescription drugs if you use their any product that places strict discounts on medical services or very limited network of providers. Others may restrict coverage so severely that participants are left exposed to crippling medical costs after an accidentorillness. The best way to protect yourself when shopping for coverage is to purchase your health plan through a reputable licensed agent such as eHealthInsurance.com; here are several warningsigns to look outfor: Too good to be true: Beware of any health insurance program that promotes itself with claims like “no medical underwriting required” or “anyone can qualify.” In most states, an individual or family health plan will still require some form of medical underwriting until health reform is fully implemented in 2014. Personal information: Beware of high-pressure marketers that require you to provide per- sonal contact information or medical history details before offering you information about the prod- ucts they’re selling. licensed agent. Coverage limits: Beware of limits on payouts either on a per- year basis or for specific treatments or conditions. Some discount health plans may limit lifetime payouts to $20,000 or less. A major medical health insurance plan, by contrast, will usually limit lifetime payouts to no less than $2 million. Starting in September 2010, health reform requires that all new major medical health insurance plans have no lifetime limit at all. Unknown brands: Beware of brand namesthat are unfamiliar to you. Look up the company online and read customer reviews. Check with the Better Business Bureau or look up the company’s A.M. Best rating to learn about a specific insurer’s reputation and reliability. To learn more about your health insurance options and get quotes from brand-namehealth insurance companies in your area, visit www.ehealthinsurance.com.
