Beware: Phone Scam Targets Medicaid Participants

Mindy Cohn

The latest in the ongoing slew of telephone scams targets New Yorkers enrolled in Medicaid along with other related government health plans.

According to Attorney General Letitia James and Acting Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald, enrollees are told they are at risk for cancellation or have already lost Medicaid benefits unless they pay hundreds of dollars to get reinstated or to have the benefits continue. The scam is causing panic even though there is no fee to renew health insurance in Medicaid, Child Health Plus, or the Essential Plan. 

The new scam takes advantage of the newly reinstated post-pandemic renewal process requirement for  Medicaid and related coverage for millions of New Yorkers.

photo credit: Flickr