Verify Medical Discount Plans Before You Buy

HARTFORD — The Connecticut Insurance Department has received complaints on several fax and Internet solicitations offering “Health Plans” or “Health Coverage.” It should be noted that these types of solicitations purposely avoid the term “insurance” because most often they are not insurance, but a medical discount plan. Be wary of terms such as “promotion” or “limited number of enrollments” as these terms have been linked to fraudulent plans.

Often, entities offering such solicitations are found to be unlicensed in Connecticut and not authorized to sell medical discount cards in the state.

The Insurance Commissioner Thomas R. Sullivan strongly recommends that consumers only purchase medical discount plans from companies or entities licensed in the state.

Consumers can easily verify a license on the insurance department’s website at www.ct.gov/cid under Consumer Information or by using keyword “verify” in the search box of the home page. Consumers without Internet access can verify a license by calling the Consumer Affairs Division at 800-203-3447 or 860-297-3900. A listing of licensed health insurers and medical discount plans is also available on the site.

Be advised that a medical discount card is not insurance, but rather a plan that provides only a discount on the bill of a participating provider. The department strongly recommends that consumers do not respond to any unsolicited fax advertisement or respond to offers for products sold over the Internet, without thoroughly checking out the company making the offer.