Con Men Prey on Confusion Over Health Care Act

[question everything]

Source: NYT

To the list of problems plaguing President Obama’s health care law, add one more — fraud. With millions of Americans frustrated and bewildered by the trouble-prone federal website for health insurance, con men and unscrupulous marketers are seizing their chance. State and federal authorities report a rising number of consumer complaints, ranging from deceptive sales practices to identity theft linked to the Affordable Care Act.

But now, the technical failures troubling the HealthCare.gov website, as well as the law’s complexity, threaten to make matters worse. Only a tiny fraction of Americans have been affected so far, but state authorities and the F.T.C. are reviewing the issue aggressively.

(snip)

Some level of fraud or abuse is predictable with any big government program, and administration officials expected a few bad actors to emerge.. But now, the technical failures troubling the HealthCare.gov website, as well as the law’s complexity, threaten to make matters worse. Only a tiny fraction of Americans have been affected so far, but state authorities and the F.T.C. are reviewing the issue aggressively.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/10/business/con-men-prey-on-confusion-over-health-care-act.html

[elleng]

1. Thanks for the info.

Shared this.

[PSPS]

2. Of course they do. That's the very reason it was made as complicated as it is.

The same is true for Medicare part D. The whole idea is to make it so complex and bewildering that hucksters can sweep in and fleece everyone. That's the business model in our country today: Lie, cheat and steal (and dutifully funnel a portion of your lucre to the GOP as a "campaign contribution" to keep the gravy train running.)

[drm604]

4. Sure. Right. It was designed to enable con men.

[Dopers_Greed]

7. This, but unironically

It was designed to enable professional con men: the insurance companies.

[drm604]

11. But those are not the type of con men the OP is talking about.

PSPS, the poster I responded too, was implying that it was designed to enable the type of people discussed in the OP; the door to door hucksters trying rip off Medicare recipients. The ACA has nothing to do with Medicare.

[question everything]

6. What an sad view you have of the world

Sure, there are con men (and women) everywhere. But one hopes that most people realize that "if it is too good to be true, it probably is."

And one hopes that local communities will be distributing flyers warning people.

When you hear of supposedly wealthy successful individuals fall for those Nigerians offers, why blame the government?

Medicare Part D is not complicated if you are also enrolled in Part B - the doctors visit. If you are enrolled with a reliable insurance, one hopes that it is explained whether Part D is included, or whether one has to purchase it separately.

As for the Donut Hole - the ACA is taking care of it.

[drm604]

3. K&R

Important info to get out.

[Iliyah]

5. Corporate media still at it

coincidence that it aligns with Gov. Nitwit Perry huh?

[SoapBox]

8. Isn't this what Pukes and TeaTerrorists would call

innovative free enterprise?

[freshwest]

10. Yup. Then refuse to pay taxes on it. After all, they stole it fair and square! It's theirs now!

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

9. Some of the con-men need a new con

The ones who sell the substandard policies that don't meet ACA's minimum standard, then tell their clients they have to upgrade, those are some devious con-men.

Or, wait, maybe we call them "insurance executives".

[alp227]

12. Con[servative] men? nt

[ReRe]

13. Hey, this is the United States of....

.... Fraudsters, isn't it? We have no effing idea where fraud and truth begin and end in this country anymore. I do, though. I don't believe any sales pitch.

[mbperrin]

14. See, this is where my populist streak shows.

I support beating these con people to death with a 2x4. Word would get around after their mutilated bodies were displayed on Instagram and other social media along with a sign explaining their crime.

I. Hate. People. Who. Pick. On. Trusting. People.