Pennsylvania residents are receiving phone calls from people asking them to switch their health insurance from their current carrier to the “Pennsylvania Department of Health’s plan.”

It’s a scam. The state health department and the Erie County Department of Health provide medical services to uninsured or underinsured Pennsylvanians, but they do not provide insurance.

It appears scammers are trying to get valuable medical information, including your Social Security number, health insurance account numbers or even details about your health. It’s called medical identity theft.

Criminals can use this information to schedule office visits, order prescription drugs or even file health insurance claims with your insurance provider, reported the Federal Trade Commission. People often don’t realize they are identity theft victims until they are billed for medical services they didn’t receive, or get a call from a debt collection agency.

Click here to read the full article and learn tips on how to identity if you’ve been victimized and ways to reduce the chances of becoming a victim.

By David Bruce, March 5, 2017, GoErie.com