Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson is warning consumers to be on the lookout for websites posing as the state’s health insurance marketplace.
The Washington Health Benefit Exchange has received dozens of complaints from state residents coming across websites posing as the official health insurance marketplace. Some websites are tricking Washingtonians to get their personal information. Others provide services, but charge for things that should be free.
Enrollment for the purchase of health insurance is now open and runs through Dec. 15. During this time, Washington residents can find, compare and enroll in new health plans through the state’s official health insurance marketplace at wahealthplanfinder.org. On the website, residents can find out whether they qualify for free or low-cost coverage.
However, some scammers have created websites posing as the official marketplace to steal Washingtonian’s private information. Providing the information needed to sign up for insurance on the marketplace, such as social security numbers or birth dates, to a fake website would expose Washington residents to fraud and identity theft.
To avoid getting scammed, follow these tips while shopping for health insurance:
- Verify the web address of the exchange: The only official web address for the online marketplace is www.wahealthplanfinder.org. Any other site with a variation on the name or with an address that ends in “.net” or “.com” is not the state’s official marketplace. If you are unsure whether you have found the official website, call Washington Healthplanfinder toll-free at 1-855-WAFINDER.
- Don’t pay for free stuff: The official marketplace for the state of Washington is the only place where you can receive tax credits, subsidies or access to free coverage through Medicaid or Washington Apple Health. Washingtonians never have to pay to sign up for free or low-cost health coverage in the marketplace.
- Reach out to free, legitimate help: Only individuals who are certified by Washington Healthplanfinder or Medicaid to assist you with the enrollment process should request personal information to complete your application during a scheduled visit. This help is always free. If you don’t know whether someone is certified to assist you, call the Washington Healthplanfinder Customer Support Center at 1-855-WAFINDER. Community volunteers trained by Medicaid can be verified by calling 1-800-562-3022 or emailing AskMedicaid@hca.wa.gov.
(Washington Attorney General)
