Authorities warned Friday of a new telephone scam targeting New Yorkers enrolled in Medicaid and other related government health plans.
The scammers are deceptively calling people and asking them to pay hundreds of dollars to maintain their health insurance through Medicaid and related programs, said Attorney General Letitia James and Acting Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald.
The truth is that there is no charge or fee to renew your health insurance in Medicaid, Child Health Plus, or the Essential Plan.
The scheme aims to capitalize on the monumental state and federal effort underway to renew Medicaid or related coverage for millions of New Yorkers after pandemic-era measures expired. The renewal process paused during the pandemic but recently restarted. The renewal reviews will continue through spring 2024.
Medicaid renewal: 100K expected to lose Medicaid in NY due to end of COVID emergency. What to know
COVID:The federal COVID emergency is ending. What that means for vaccines, testing in NY
How New Yorkers can avoid Medicaid renewal scam
There have been reports of scam calls threatening New Yorkers that their Medicaid coverage is at risk for cancellation or that they have actually already lost their Medicaid benefits, unless they provide hundreds of dollars to reinstate or continue benefits, authorities said.
Authorities offered tips to help New Yorkers properly re-enroll in Medicaid and related programs while avoiding the new scam.
Among the tips:
- If you enrolled in health insurance through the New York State of Health, many people are available to help you renew for free.
- These include the state’s health certified enrollment assistors (including navigators, agents, and brokers) and customer service representatives. For information or guidance, visit the State of Health’s website —https://nystateofhealth.ny.gov/ —or call 1-855-355-5777.
- If you enrolled in Medicaid through either your county’s Medicaid office or through New York City’s Human…
Read the full article here
Leave a Reply