Politics & Government

County Warns of Affordable Care Act Scams

Do you approve of the Affordable Care Act?

By Patch Local Editor William Mansell.

As the Government shutdown and the Affordable Care Act both went into effect this week, Pinellas County wants to warn residents to be mindful of potential scams. 

The county said there are three aspects of the Affordable Care Act that make it ripe for scammers: 

  1. The law affects nearly every American in some way, so consumers across the U.S. are vulnerable to getting scammed. 
  2. The act is not standardized nationwide, allowing each state to administer the law in different ways. 
  3. The complexity of the law leaves consumers confused.
"Expect scammers to be counting on consumers’ lack of knowledge and confusion regarding the law in order to perpetrate their scams," the county said in a news release. "Government officials will not call about health insurance and would never ask for personal information over the phone."

According to county officials, do not give out personal information without verifying the source, especially if it was unsolicited. 

Other advice from the Pinellas County Department of Justice and Consumer Services includes: Be cautious of how you are contacts, do not rely on caller ID and take your time signing up in order to make the right choice. 

For those shopping for insurance through the ACA Insurance Marketplace, Pinellas County has a program set up to help guide people through the selection process. You can call 727-464-8411 to set up an appointment to speak with a counselor.

For more information on the Affordable Care Act, you can go to healthcare.gov.


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