New York State Attorney General Letitia James and Department of Health Secretary Dr. McDonald are cautioning residents about potential health insurance fraud as they prepare for the upcoming 2026 enrollment period.
They suggest that health insurance fraud is likely to rise during this time, particularly targeting those trying to secure or maintain their coverage.
James emphasized the importance of affordable healthcare access, especially with rising costs and uncertain federal support. “We cannot let fraudsters take advantage of New Yorkers. I urge everyone to stay alert and report any suspicious activity to my office. We are dedicated to holding these scammers accountable,” she said.
Some common tactics employed by scammers include:
- Using intimidation, they may claim that individuals risk losing their insurance unless they pay a significant fee.
- Offering enticing but false deals to extract personal information, often via phishing scams that promise gift cards or cash in exchange for “renewing” health accounts.
- Charging fees to enroll in marketplace insurance. It’s worth noting that the New York agency responsible for Medicaid and related benefits never requests payment for enrollment or renewal.
Dr. McDonald reinforced the need for vigilance during enrollment or renewal periods to safeguard personal information and health access.
Both officials provided several tips to help residents avoid falling victim to these scams:
- No fees should be charged for renewing health insurance for Medicaid, Child Health Plus, the Essential Plan, or any qualified health plan.
- If enrolled through the New York State Department of Health, many will assist you with renewals at no cost, including certified enrollment assistants and customer service representatives. Details can be found at nystateofhealth.ny.gov or by calling 1-855-355-5777.
- Assistance is also available if you enrolled through your county Medicaid office or New York City’s Human Resources Agency; you can ask questions regarding your renewal.
- Government agencies should never threaten you, demand money, or request sensitive information via calls, texts, or emails.
- Be cautious of websites that falsely claim to be the official New York State Health Insurance Marketplace; only refer to the official New York State Health Website. Submitting contact details to unofficial sites may lead to unwanted communications from scammers.
- If your health plan has a premium, pay it directly to the plan; the official website will not ask for bank details or payments.
