The dust has not settled yet. Major question about what the health care reform bill means still are being answered.

Yet.

There are more questions than answers at this point because it is large is scope and the details matter.

The only people claiming to have “the answers” for patients appear to be con artists, as this New York Times story reports.

Since they are preying on the most vulnerable people—low income and/or elderly people—the scams are even worse than most.

Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathless Sebelius has issued warnings. State health commissioner are issuing warnings.

Anyone who claims to be a government worker selling anything is committing fraud. Get his or her name, contact information and report it right away to your state insurance commissioner.

The number of that office is available by calling information or going online. Report these people!

If you feel you have family members who may be taken in by such scams, talk to them about this. Assure them that you and others will check out any offer to see if it is legitimate. Sign nothing until the checks are completed.

The New York Times

“In Illinois, a telemarketer recently sold an elderly woman a fraudulent health insurance plan that supposedly protected her against “death panels,” the state insurance director says.

“In Alabama, a con artist has been offering “government health care reform” insurance over the phone in exchange for customers’ bank account numbers, according to the local Better Business Bureau.

“And in Kansas, law enforcement authorities are investigating reports of people identifying themselves as government employees and taking payments for “Obamacare” insurance.

“Con artists in several states are seizing on the public’s financial struggles and confusion about the recent health care overhaul, the authorities say. So far, the frauds appear to be relatively infrequent and are often no more sophisticated than spam fax messages with blatant misspellings and no company letterhead. (Emphasis added)

“But they have generated warnings from state insurance departments and Kathleen Sebelius, the secretary of health and human services. The authorities say the elderly and the poor are especially vulnerable to the bogus plans, which have names like Obamacare and Obama Health Plan and promise affordable compliance with the new law. The fraudsters often impersonate insurance agents and government workers.” (Emphasis added)

Source: New York Times, April 26, 2o1o