By Kenny Goldberg
Obamacare kicks off in a big way Oct. 1. That’s when the state’s online health insurance exchange known as Covered California opens for business. Believe it or not, scam artists are already in the game.
Obamacare requires all Americans to have health insurance by Jan. 1.
Californians can shop for plans and apply for subsidies on the Covered California website.
But state insurance regulators said consumers need to make sure they’re on the official site.
That’s because bogus websites claiming to be connected with Covered California have been appearing for more than a year.
Regulators said some of these fake portals ask people to enter personal or financial information.
Other red flags include salespeople who say the price of a plan is available only for a limited time.
The truth is, consumers can buy insurance through the exchange anytime between Oct. 1 and March 31. Rates for all plans won’t change during the entire enrollment period.