Phone scams
Is the health insurance call a scam?
Quick answer
Many are — especially during ACA open enrollment periods. Scammers cold-call selling fake plans, harvesting personal info (SSN, bank), or enrolling you in 'short-term medical' that doesn't actually cover real care. The real ACA marketplace never cold-calls.
Red flags to look for
- Cold call about 'ACA help,' 'Obamacare subsidy,' or 'Medicare advantage'
- Asks for your full SSN, bank account, and date of birth on first call
- Promises shockingly low monthly premiums ($50 or less for family coverage)
- Pressure to enroll today, before you can compare
- Vague about which insurer underwrites the plan
- Plan turns out to be 'short-term limited duration' or 'health sharing ministry' — not real insurance
Real examples
Phone call
Hi, I'm calling from the Healthcare Enrollment Hotline. You qualify for a $0 premium plan with full coverage. To enroll, I just need your Social Security number, date of birth, and bank account for autopay.
Likely Scam
The real ACA marketplace doesn't cold-call. Real brokers don't need SSN + bank on a first call. The 'plan' is either nonexistent or junk coverage that won't pay claims.
What to do
- Hang up on cold calls about health insurance.
- For real ACA enrollment, go directly to healthcare.gov or your state exchange.
- For Medicare questions, call 1-800-MEDICARE directly.
- Use a local licensed broker (search nipr.com to verify license).
- Report fraudulent insurance sales to your state insurance commissioner.
Not sure about a message? Check it in seconds.
Paste any suspicious text, email, link, or screenshot into Double Check and get a plain-English answer instantly. Free to start. Family alerts included.
Why scammers use this approach
Health insurance is confusing, expensive, and emotionally charged. Many Americans are willing to talk to anyone promising lower premiums — making cold-call health insurance scams highly effective.
Frequently asked questions
Are any cold-call insurance sales legitimate?
Very few. Legitimate brokers usually require you to opt in. If you didn't request the call, default to suspicion.