Some consumers covered by Affordable Care Act insurance plans are being switched from one plan to another without their express permission, potentially leaving them unable to see their doctors or fill prescriptions. Some face large IRS bills for back taxes.
Unauthorized enrollment or plan-switching is emerging as a serious challenge for the ACA, also known as Obamacare. Brokers say the ease with which rogue agents can get into policyholder accounts in the 32 states served by the federal marketplace plays a major role in the problem, according to an investigation by KFF Health News.
Indeed, armed with only a person’s name, date of birth, and state, a licensed agent can access a policyholder’s coverage through the federal exchange or its direct enrollment platforms. It’s harder to do through state ACA markets, because they often require additional information.
“It’s rampant. It’s horrible,” says Ronnell Nolan, president of
We are a society which has become used to vast amounts of fraud. This has occurred in banking, Healthcare, and most popularly in AI. It is part of our transition toward Third World status. Why? Because our Judicial system has ceased to function decades ago. Given our multilayered Judicial system where “Justice” is meted out based on income and connection, there is little correspondence between crime and punishment for the wealthy and well connected. I would ask you dear reader: Which high level executive were incarcerated for the institutional fraud occurring at Well Fargo a few years ago? Which high level banking executives were incarcerated for the scams associated with the liar’s loans and toxic assets funneled through the system precipitating the 2018 crash? Which healthcare executives were incarcerated for the myriad data breaches which have occurred over the past decade under their watch? Which healthcare executives have been incarcerated over the massive up coding resulting in fraud to medicare or medicaid? How many executives do you expect to be jailed from United Healthcare for the use of AI to deny Medicare Advantage customers the care they have paid for and are entitled to? When the wealthy and well connected consistently get off with fines and slaps on the wrist, it’s just part of the cost of doing business. There is no need to modify behavior. This is one of many data points which lead to an erosion of institutional trust. When push comes to shove, who will defend such a system except those who prosper from it?