Beware Obamacare Small Business Scams
Beware Obamacare scams targeting small businesses. With open enrollment officially starting today, the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare, is now in full effect.
But so too are Obamacare scams hoping to target unsuspecting business owners, The Washington Post reports.
With the new health care law comes new opportunities for many scammers seeking to take advantage of those who are confused by Obamacare. Here's a general breakdown of what you, as a small business owner, should be wary of:
How Obamacare Scams Work
Business owners who need (or want) to provide health care for their employees may be particularly vulnerable to Obamacare scams. A common one, according to Forbes, is the fake website, intended to look like the law's official new health insurance exchanges.
What happens is that you'll be linked to a website that's pretending to be an official one. It may be directed to you after a phone call, email, or even from someone pretending to be a government official traveling door-to-door, offering to help you sign up for plans that meet the federal requirements. In turn, they will guarantee that you'll be able to avoid penalties under Obamacare.
Of course, when you click on the scam website, you'll then be asked to submit private identifying information, such as credit card numbers, bank account information, or your health records or Social Security number.
Be Aware, Be Educated
These schemes are meant to target those who are in the dark or confused about the new Obamacare rules and regulations. In order to protect you and your business from these scams, first of all, ignore any unsolicited calls or emails about Obamacare.
Also, remember that the more informed you are about Obamacare, the less likely you'll fall into these scammers' traps. You can read up on Obamacare and what's required of you and your business in our "Understanding Obamacare" series for entrepreneurs.
For official details on the Affordable Care Act, head to HealthCare.gov, a federal government website managed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. You can also call the federal toll-free hotline at (800) 318-2596.
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Related Resources:
- Most common Obamacare scams (so far) (CNN)
- Under Obamacare, 7 Options for Small Businesses (FindLaw's Free Enterprise)
- How Obamacare's Employer Mandate Affects Small Biz (FindLaw's Free Enterprise)
- Can Your Business Get an Obamacare Tax Credit? (FindLaw's Free Enterprise)