Washington: @WAPlanFinder opens Special Enrollment Period for those misled by Benefytt Technologies

via the Washington Health Benefit Exchange:

FTC action against Benefytt results in refunds for consumers who bought insufficient plansOlympia, WA

Washington Health Benefit Exchange (Exchange) is opening a special enrollment period until Nov. 10, 2022, for 232 Washingtonians who were sold an insufficient healthcare plan from Benefytt Technologies.

Benefytt must contact customers who are currently paying for Benefytt’s plans, inform them of the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) complaint against the company, and allow them to cancel their enrollment. Benefytt also must provide refunds for payments made after the order is entered directly to customers who cancel right away.

The FTC’s complaint alleges that the defendants and their third-party partners operated a series of deceptive websites, like “Obamacareplans.com,” that targeted consumers who were searching for comprehensive health insurance plans qualified under the Affordable Care Act. Qualified plans must provide certain benefits like preventive care, cover people with pre-existing conditions without charging more for the plan, and cap consumers’ out-of-pocket medical costs. When consumers navigated the websites, they were often led to a sales agent who would pitch them Benefytt’s unqualified plans. Even though they were led to believe they were buying comprehensive health insurance, people often were charged hundreds of dollars per month for Benefytt products and services that left them unprotected in a medical catastrophe.

Any customer who purchased an insufficient healthcare plan from companies like Benefytt, Aliera, SimpleHealth, or Alliance for Shared Health, may be eligible for a special enrollment period and can contact the Customer Support Center, from 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday at 1-855-923-4633 (TTY: 1-855-627-9604). Additionally, Enrollment Centers, certified Brokers, and Navigators are standing by ready to assist.

People in Washington state who have trouble with their health insurance can file a complaint with Office of the Insurance Commissioner.