Tips To Avoid Scams During WI Health Insurance Open Enrollment

MILWAUKEE, WI — Wisconsin residents should be wary of robocalls, emails and unsolicited sales calls from people offering to sell them health insurance over the phone during open enrollment in November, Wisconsin Insurance Commissioner Mark Afable advised Thursday.

People who need health insurance were encouraged to work with a licensed insurance agent or an enrollment assistant to get coverage without risking personal information, the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance said in a statement.

If a Wisconsinite receives an unsolicited call from someone trying to sell health insurance over the phone, she should vet the caller with the following questions.

• Are you a Wisconsin-licensed health insurance agent or broker? If so, what's your national producer number?
• Are you charging a fee? Signing up for health insurance should be free.
• Are you showing me all the insurance options available?
• Am I eligible for Medicaid or BadgerCare?
• Am I eligible for a discount or reduced premium based on my income?
• Are you offering Affordable Care Act-compliant qualified health plans?

Customers can also call the United Way's 211 phone number or go to WisCovered.com to find expert advice near them, the office said.

“Make sure to do your research, only utilize resources you know and trust, and don't respond to calls or email solicitations from numbers you don't recognize or people you don't know," Afable said.