Wisconsin officials are warning residents that fraudulent telemarketers and websites may try to take advantage of their attempts to enroll for health insurance.
"We suspect fraudsters may emerge in the final weeks of the Affordable Care Act's enrollment," Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen said in a news release Tuesday.
But there have been few complaints about scams so far, said Sandy Chalmers, an official with the state's Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
Enrollment for individual health insurance plans ends March 31.
In the news release, the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance recommended the following precautions:
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r Contact the insurance commissioner to make sure an agent is licensed in Wisconsin. Call (800) 236-8517 or go to oci.wi.gov.
r Verify the legitimacy of websites you visit. The official site is healthcare.gov.
r Keep good records, including contact information for anyone who assists you.
r Don't sign anything you don't fully understand.
r Be suspicious if you are asked to transact business in an unusual way, such as by using a money order or buying a money card.
r Don't give in to high-pressure tactics. You can't go to jail for failing to enroll in the Affordable Care Act. If you are in Medicare, you do not need to enroll in the Affordable Care Act or reapply for Medicare.
