From National Public Radio, by Julie Appleby:
Some consumers are being switched from one ACA insurance plan to another without their consent, potentially disrupting their medical care and prescription needs. This unauthorized switching can also lead to large IRS bills for back taxes. Agents can access a policyholder’s coverage using only a person’s name, date of birth, and state. This ease of access plays a significant role in the problem.
Consumers may end up in plans they did not choose and may bear tax burdens if they are signed up for coverage that includes premium tax credits for which they are ineligible.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is aware of the problem and has outlined technical efforts to resolve issues when complaints are lodged. However, it is unclear whether these efforts will be sufficient. CMS is considering further regulatory and technological solutions, including two-factor authentication. States that run their own marketplaces have been more successful in preventing unauthorized switches as they require more information before a policy can be accessed.
The issue is causing an outcry from agents who lose out on commissions when their clients are switched by other agents. It also casts a shadow on a record year for ACA enrollment, with more than 21 million people signing up for 2024 coverage.
Florida, Georgia, and Texas appear to be hotspots for plan-switching.
Some agents suspect names and lists of potential clients are being circulated to agents willing to bend the rules. Online or social media advertising is a way some outfits troll for prospects, who then end up on lists sold to brokers or are contacted directly by agents.