The FTC says ads and phone pitches during open enrollment can mislead shoppers, so slow down before you sign up for any health plan.
If it feels like health insurance ads are following you around, you are not imagining it. The Federal Trade Commission, the federal agency that handles consumer protection, says some of those ads and phone pitches can be misleading. Open enrollment for the Health Insurance Marketplace runs from Nov. 1 to Jan. 15.
The FTC says ads and pitches may promise comprehensive health insurance that the plan does not actually deliver. In plain terms, a plan can sound like full coverage in an ad or on a call and still leave gaps once you need care. The warning covers both ads you see and calls you get.
Anyone shopping for coverage on the Marketplace could run into these pitches. That includes families, the self-employed and small business owners. Busy people comparing options during a short window may be the easiest to rush.
A misleading plan could leave you paying for coverage that does not cover your care. That is a problem for your budget and your health. The cost shows up later, often when you are already sick or hurt.
The alert box above lists the steps. The short version is to slow down, get details in writing and sign up through the official Marketplace site, HealthCare.gov, instead of an ad or a call.
The FTC notice, as available here, does not name any company or say how many people have been affected. It also does not describe specific plans. Treat that as a reason for caution with any unexpected pitch, not as a sign that one source is safe.
Before you say yes to any health plan, get what it covers in writing and enroll through HealthCare.gov, not through an ad or a call.
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