California insurance commissioner warns against healthcare scams

posted by Laurence Shipman

In the wake of the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2009, California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner is asking the state's residents to be on the lookout for insurance scam artists.

There is a certain amount of confusion among state residents about the new law, and the insurance commissioner wants to make sure that people aren't being taken advantage of. Poizner said that "scam artists will use any opportunity to exploit consumers, and the passage of the new federal health care legislation is no exception. I urge Californians shopping for health insurance to be wary of agents, brokers, or anyone pressuring them to purchase a policy, and to call the Department of Insurance immediately if illegal behavior is suspected."

Scam artists have been going door-to-door and setting up fake toll-free numbers to sell "ObamaCare" insurance policies. Poizner warns residents that if insurance policies offered have limited benefits or a limited-time offer, they should confirm the agent's legitimacy with the state's insurance department.

Poizner recently warned California residents about scam artists selling fake earthquake insurance.