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Medical Savings Cards Save You Money! |
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Consumer Alert: Be Careful When Purchasing a Medical Savings Card
Many Americans are searching for affordable medical insurance since medical care premiums on the rise, . There has been an increase in medical savings card plans being marketed. It is important to know the difference between medical insurance and medical savings cards and to be able to distinguish between legitimate and fraudulent cards. Medical savings cards are not insurance. Legitimate savings cards offer medical savings on services from doctors, pharmacists, etc., who accept these cards. 1. Buyers Beware! Because medical savings cards are not insurance, fewer consumer protections exist for buyers. Many state insurance departments do not regulate the entities that sell these cards, although some insurance departments have recently enacted legislation to allow regulation, including licensing or registration requirements.
2. Double-check the company and agent. Some insurance carriers offer insurance savings cards at little or no cost as an added value to their members. Certain associations, banks, employers and others also provide medical savings cards. However, there is the potential for confusion and fraud with respect to these offers. Beware of salespeople and advertisements that use words like “co-payments” or “premiums” to deceive consumers into thinking a savings card plan is a insurance. Avoid sales personnel or companies of medical savings card plans that insist on debit or credit card information and may pressure you to make quick decisions. Contact the Government Office of the Attorney General and the Better Business Bureau to see if complaints have been made against the entity. Ask the sales person or company if the product is an insurance plan or a discount plan.
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