$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
health insurance marketplace phishing scam
Phishing emails and fake websites impersonate Healthcare.gov or state marketplace sites to steal personal information and financial data during enrollment periods.
“Medicare scam”
↑ 71%Key indicators
Usually targetsPatients
Often hitsFreelancers and contractors
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$960
median reported loss
Typical range$60 – $6.0K
Recovery rate~15%
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers send emails mimicking Healthcare.gov branding during open enrollment or special enrollment periods
2
Victims click links to fake enrollment pages and enter detailed personal, financial, and health information
3
Stolen data is used for identity theft, fraudulent tax returns, and unauthorized insurance enrollments
What to do first
Always navigate directly to Healthcare.gov or your state marketplace — never click enrollment links in emails
Related terms
Healthcare.gov phishingACA marketplace scamObamacare enrollment fraudMedicare and health scamsEmailRisingPatientsLow-income householdsFreelancers and contractorsSmall business ownersPayroll, HR, and finance teamsUnited StatesHealthcare.gov phishingACA marketplace scam
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Wei, 35, a patients, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate medicare and health scams situation while using Email. Scammers send emails mimicking Healthcare.gov branding during open enrollment or special enrollment periods
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: Victims click links to fake enrollment pages and enter detailed personal, financial, and health information
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: Stolen data is used for identity theft, fraudulent tax returns, and unauthorized insurance enrollments
The outcome
Wei realized something was wrong when email claiming your marketplace application is incomplete and will be canceled unless you click a link. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Always navigate directly to Healthcare.gov or your state marketplace — never click enrollment links in emails Wei's experience shows why email claiming your marketplace application is incomplete and will be canceled unless you click a link and url resembles but does not exactly match healthcare.gov or your state marketplace are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Email claiming your marketplace application is incomplete and will be canceled unless you click a link
- URL resembles but does not exactly match Healthcare.gov or your state marketplace
- Requests Social Security number, income documents, or bank details via email form
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Always navigate directly to Healthcare.gov or your state marketplace — never click enrollment links in emails
- ✓Call the Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596 to verify any communication
- ✓Report phishing to the HHS OIG and forward the email to [email protected]
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
- ✓Keep the full sender address, domain, attachments, and—if possible—the raw email headers.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- HHS has issued repeated warnings about phishing sites impersonating Healthcare.gov, noting increased activity during every enrollment period
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Always navigate directly to Healthcare.gov or your state marketplace — never click enrollment links in emails
- ✓Call the Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596 to verify any communication
- ✓Report phishing to the HHS OIG and forward the email to [email protected]
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
HHS has issued repeated warnings about phishing sites impersonating Healthcare.gov, noting increased activity during every enrollment period
OpenScam research
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Patients, Low-income households
Geographic concentration
United States
Primary channel
Email — Medicare and health scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Patients are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The growing number of reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- HHS has issued repeated warnings about phishing sites impersonating Healthcare.gov, noting increased activity during every enrollment period
Source notes
- OpenScam research
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about health insurance marketplace phishing scam
How does the health insurance marketplace phishing scam work?+
Scammers send emails mimicking Healthcare.gov branding during open enrollment or special enrollment periods Victims click links to fake enrollment pages and enter detailed personal, financial, and health information Stolen data is used for identity theft, fraudulent tax returns, and unauthorized insurance enrollments
What are the warning signs of health insurance marketplace phishing scam?+
Email claiming your marketplace application is incomplete and will be canceled unless you click a link URL resembles but does not exactly match Healthcare.gov or your state marketplace Requests Social Security number, income documents, or bank details via email form
What should I do if I encounter health insurance marketplace phishing scam?+
Always navigate directly to Healthcare.gov or your state marketplace — never click enrollment links in emails Call the Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596 to verify any communication Report phishing to the HHS OIG and forward the email to [email protected]
Who is most at risk for health insurance marketplace phishing scam?+
This scam primarily targets Patients, Low-income households. It is most commonly reported in United States and typically appears on Email.
Is health insurance marketplace phishing scam on the rise?+
health insurance marketplace phishing scam is currently on the rise with growing reports. It has been reported across US. Last updated 2026-04-04.
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Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.
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