Protect yourself from Marketplace fraud

When you apply for health coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace®, you can protect yourself from fraud by following a few simple guidelines.
IMPORTANT: After you complete an application, you may get a phone call from the Marketplace to verify or ask for more information. Jump to “If you get a call from the Marketplace” below.

Be informed about your health care choices

  • Spend some time with HealthCare.gov to learn the basics about getting health coverage. It’s the official Marketplace website.
  • Compare insurance plans carefully before making your decision. If you have questions, contact the Marketplace Call Center.
  • Look for official government seals, logos, or web addresses (which end in “.gov”) on materials in print or online.
  • Know the Marketplace Open Enrollment dates. No one can enroll you in a health plan in the Marketplace until Open Enrollment begins or after it ends unless you have
    special circumstances
    .

Protect your private health care and financial information

  • Never give your financial information, like your banking, credit card, or account numbers, to someone who calls or comes to your home uninvited, even if they say they are from the Marketplace. (Jump to “If you get a call from the Marketplace” below.)
  • Never give your personal health information, like your medical history or specific treatments you’ve gotten, to anyone who asks you for it. (If you apply for certain Marketplace exemptions, you may be asked for medical documentation.)

Protect your account more with security codes

When you create a Marketplace account, you can protect your account even more by getting a unique security code each time you log in. This makes it harder for someone to get into your account, if they get your password.
  • Security codes are randomly created and sent to you. No one sees the code before it’s sent to you.
  • You can pick ways to get security codes – text message, email, or phone call. You can even choose to get codes in more than one way.
    • Text messages and phone calls are sent by 1-888-486-3063.
    • Emails are sent by account@healthcare.gov.
  • If you set up more than one way to get codes, we’ll ask you where we should send the code each time you log in. You’ll be able to pick what works best for you at that time.
We can’t respond to replies to security codes. If you need help setting up security codes or logging into your account, contact the Marketplace Call Center.
Notice:
Never share your Marketplace account password or security code with anyone, even if they say they are from the Marketplace. We’ll never ask you for your password or security code.

Ask questions and verify the answers you get

  • The Marketplace has trained assisters in every state to help you at no cost. You should never be asked to pay for services or help to apply for Marketplace coverage. Find a free, trained local assister.
  • Ask questions if any information is unclear.
  • Write down and keep a record of the name of a salesperson or anyone who may assist you, who he or she works for, telephone number, street address, mailing address, email address, and website.
  • Double check any information that is confusing or sounds fishy. Check out HealthCare.gov to verify things or contact the Marketplace Call Center.

If you get a call from the Marketplace

After you apply you may get a phone call from the Marketplace asking you to verify or provide more information. If we don’t have this information we may not able to process your application.
Follow these tips to help prevent fraud:
If your phone has caller ID, check the number. The display may show one of these:
  • Health Insurance MP
  • InsMarketplace
  • 1-855-997-1890
  • 844-477-7500
The customer service representative will say they are calling from the Marketplace and provide a first name and agent ID number. Write them down.
A Marketplace representative may leave a message on your answering machine. If this happens, you won’t be able to call back. If the Marketplace can’t reach you after 3 tries, you’ll get a letter in the mail telling you what to do next.
The Marketplace representative may ask you the following:
  • To verify your identity, using information you provided on your application, including your full name and address.
  • To provide or verify your Social Security Number, application ID, policy ID, user ID, date of birth, or phone number.
  • To verify or provide income, household, and employment information, but NOT personal financial information, like a bank name and account number. They'll never ask:
    • About any personal health information, like your medical history or conditions. (If you’re applying for certain Marketplace exemptions, you may be asked to provide medical documentation.)
    • For your Marketplace account password or security code.
If you don’t want to answer over the phone, ask the representative to mail you a letter with instructions for completing your application.
In certain cases, the Marketplace may request additional documentation. You can upload documents or mail information to:
Health Insurance Marketplace
465 Industrial Blvd.
London, KY 40750-0001
Don’t mail any information to a different address. The ZIP code may end with 4 extra numbers the representative provides.

When to report suspected fraud

Take action if:
  • Someone other than the insurance company you’ve chosen contacts you about health insurance and asks you to pay – or asks for your financial or personal health information.
  • Someone you don’t know contacts you about getting health insurance and asks you to pay – or asks you for your personal financial or health information.
  • Someone contacts you and claims to be from the government or Medicare – and asks you to pay for a new “Obamacare” insurance card.
  • You give your personal health, bank account, or credit card information to someone who calls you and says they’re from the government.

How to report suspected fraud

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