FBI Alerts on Discounted Medical Insurance Scams Targeting U.S. Consumers

The FBI has issued a nationwide alert about a widespread discounted medical insurance scam targeting individuals seeking affordable healthcare options. These fraudulent schemes involve deceptive advertising promising significantly reduced rates for legitimate health insurance coverage but ultimately deliver no actual benefits, leaving victims responsible for their medical expenses.

Scammers employ various tactics such as unsolicited calls, texts, and emails, falsely claiming to be authorized medical providers and pressuring targets with limited-time offers. Several states, including Washington, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Maryland, have reported incidents where consumers were misled into purchasing fake or ineffective insurance policies.

In Washington, a discount insurance company faced a cease-and-desist order after complaints revealed misrepresentations about coverage and unauthorized charges to customers, who also failed to receive promised refunds. Pennsylvania cases involved victims being pressured into quick decisions, receiving no coverage confirmation, and bearing full medical bills despite payments.

Texas and Maryland examples highlight the use of ancillary service offers as bait and the sale of policies that do not cover accepted providers or expected medical costs, resulting in significant out-of-pocket expenses. Attempts to cancel these policies often go unanswered, forcing victims to take additional steps like canceling credit cards to stop fraudulent charges.

The FBI advises consumers to report any fraudulent insurance activity through the Internet Crimes Complaint Center, providing detailed information such as company names, contact information, and websites. Awareness and vigilance are critical as scammers continue exploiting the demand for affordable healthcare solutions.