Insurance Insights

February 8-14, 2016

Protect yourself post-enrollment

By Allen Kerr

With the ending of Open Enrollment for health insurance, Arkansans may start to receive phone calls to verify certain information on their application. While many of these calls are legitimate, there is the potential that the person on the other end of the phone is more interested in the health of your bank account rather than your health insurance.

I want to provide you some tips in order to protect yourself from someone stealing your information. If you receive a call from someone from the Marketplace, they might ask about your income, but they will never ask you for bank or account information. They will also never ask about your medical history. If you get a call from someone asking for these things or to pay something, hang up immediately!

Here are some things to keep in mind to better protect yourself:

– If you receive a call from a Marketplace agent, they will provide a first name and an agent ID number. Make sure to write them down.

– Never provide financial information, like banking, credit card, or account numbers, to someone who calls or visits in person, even if they say they are from the Marketplace.

– Never give personal health information, like medical history or specific treatments received, to anyone who asks for it.

– Never agree to pay for anything over the phone, whether it’s a first bill or a new Marketplace or “Obamacare” insurance card.

Please remember that if you do not feel comfortable or wish to answer any questions from a Marketplace agent over the phone, you can request a letter be sent to you.

If you receive a phone call from the Marketplace, you may be able to verify the call with your caller ID. The name/number displayed by a legitimate Marketplace caller may be one of the following:

– Health Insurance MP

– InsMarketplace

– 701-264-3124

– 606-260-4191

– 479-877-3203

– 636-698-6320

– 580-354-7707

If you have received a phone call asking for personal financial or medical information, or feel like you may have given this information to someone you shouldn’t have, please contact the Arkansas Insurance Department at 800-282-9134 or visit www.ftc.gov/idtheft.

It is my pleasure to continue to serve you as your Insurance Commissioner. For more information on the Arkansas Insurance Department, please visit http://insurance.arkansas.gov, follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ARInsuranceDept and Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ArkansasInsuranceDepartment.  

Allen Kerr was appointed Arkansas Insurance Commissioner on Jan. 13, 2016, by Governor Asa Hutchinson.