Fraud and abuse
Healthcare fraud
Healthcare fraud occurs when a false claim is deliberately submitted to a health plan. It affects virtually everyone, taking critical dollars out of our already financially overwhelmed healthcare system.
The National Healthcare Anti-Fraud Association estimates that as much as $50 billion is lost annually in the United States to healthcare fraud. The U.S. General Accounting Office reports that this figure might even be as high as $120 billion. It’s easy to see why losses of that magnitude affect costs for consumers, providers, and insurers.
Those who commit healthcare fraud can face fines and/or jail terms. For example, making false or misleading statements on a health plan application carry a penalty of up to five years in prison.
At Premera, it’s critical that we do all we can to prevent, detect, and investigate healthcare fraud and abuse by providers, producers, employer groups or members. Premera has a Special Investigations Unit to look into suspected instances of fraud. We also have a Fraud Hotline you can call anytime (800-848-0244 or 425-918-5500) to report fraud.
- Guard your health insurance ID number as you would credit card information
- Check your Explanation of Benefits (EOB) for inflated charges, incorrect billed services or dates of service and any false statements
- Call our Fraud Hotline, 24/7 at 800-848-0244 or 425-918-5500 to report possible fraudulent activity
Phishing scams
The term “phishing” refers to the attempt to acquire sensitive information such as credit card details, Social Security numbers, and other personal protected information by falsely posing as a trustworthy entity, usually in an electronic communication (telephone, email, instant messaging, etc.).
The purpose of phishing is to steal your identify or personal protected information through deception, and to use that information for fraudulent activity and scams. Phishing attempts may use trusted organization logos, names and styles to deceive victims into providing personal protected information.
Legitimate emails from Premera will never ask you for your username/password, Social Security number, financial data, or other personal protected information. We will also never threaten to cancel your coverage if you do not supply this information. If Premera contacts you via phone, it will only be in follow up to your previous inquiry and we will not ask for your personal protected information.
- Very generic greetings or mistakes in the greeting
- Misspellings or grammatical errors
- A false sense of urgency, e.g. “you must take immediate action or we will cancel your contract”
- Links in email that take you to non-Premera sites
- Telephone calls from unrecognized or suspicious area codes
- Callers who are unable to answer basic questions such as which providers are in the network, the status of your claims, etc.
These are some tips on how to safeguard your personal protected information from phishing scams and other fraudulent behavior:
- Remember: Premera will never contact you to solicit your personal protected information
- Do not provide your personal protected information to anyone who calls or emails you unrelated to an inquiry you made
- Proceed with caution - do not make any decisions before investigating the details
- Never email personal or financial information unless via our secure member site
- Safeguard your member ID card at all times and do not give out your information contained on the card to anyone other than your doctor, hospital or pharmacy
- Hang up on fake phone requests
You can call us 24/7 to report suspicious activity:
Health Care Authority
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