Watch Out New Yorkers: Health Insurance Scams During Open Enrollment

It’s open enrollment time again, which means it’s also prime season for health insurance scams in New York. As people across the state start signing up or renewing their coverage for 2026, state officials are reminding everyone to stay alert and double-check anything that seems suspicious.

Scammers often take advantage of this time of year, pretending to represent real insurance companies or even the NY State of Health Marketplace.

Their goal is usually to get people to share personal information or pay for fake insurance plans. Some of the tricks include offering fake incentives like gift cards, threatening to cancel coverage unless you pay immediately, or setting up websites that look almost identical to the real NY State of Health site.

If something feels off, it probably is. You should never have to pay to renew or enroll in Medicaid, Child Health Plus, the Essential Plan, or a Qualified Health Plan. And official agencies won’t ask for personal information by text, email, or random phone calls.

Officials also say to ignore messages claiming new health policy changes are already active under the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” Those updates won’t take effect until next year.

A few reminders: open enrollment for 2026 health plans runs from November 1st to December 15th, with coverage starting January 1st. You can find real information and help at nystateofhealth.ny.gov or by calling 1-855-355-5777.

If you think you’ve been targeted, contact the Attorney General’s office at 1-800-771-7755.