Obamacare: Scams, Fraud & Felons

As Data Security Experts Warn Of Deep Vulnerabilities Within The Website, Sebelius Admits That Felons Can Access Your Personal Data

SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY): “When asked if convicted felons could become Obamacare navigators and acquire Americans’ sensitive information, here’s what [Sec. Sebelius] said: It’s ‘possible.’ These revelations are really concerning.” (Sen. McConnell, Floor Remarks, 11/7/13)

Experts Warn: ‘Considerable Safety Risks’

“Early stumbles on the hobbled Obamacare website — password glitches, incomplete testing and fractured development — underscore considerable safety risks and hint at deeper vulnerabilities, data security experts warn.” (“Security Experts Fear ACA Vulnerabilities,” Politico, 11/5/13)

• EXPERT: “Some of these things are real amateur hour… This might just be an error, but you could not pass an undergraduate [computer science] class by making these mistakes.” (“Security Experts Fear ACA Vulnerabilities,” Politico, 11/5/13)

“The perceived holes turned up alongside an internal memo… highlighted concerns about inadequate security testing four days before HealthCare.gov’s launch. Administration officials warned that the uncertainty created a ‘high risk’ for the site but said it ‘must be accepted and mitigated’ to support the site’s Oct. 1 debut.” (“Security Experts Fear ACA Vulnerabilities,” Politico, 11/5/13)

“…technicians had to scramble to make a software fix earlier this week after learning that a North Carolina man tried to log on and got a South Carolina man's personal information.” (“Health Website's Security Prompts Worries,” AP, 11/6/13)

Sebelius Admits Felons ‘Could Acquire Sensitive Personal Information’

“Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius told a congressional panel on Wednesday that it was ‘possible’ for an ObamaCare navigator to have been convicted of a felony.” (“Sebelius: ‘Possible’ For Felon To Become An Obamacare Navigator,” The Hill, 11/6/13)

• SEN. JOHN CORNYN (R-TX): “So a convicted felon could be a navigator and could acquire sensitive personal information from an individual unbeknownst to them?” HHS SEC. KATHLEEN SEBELIUS: “That is possible.” (Senate Finance Committee, Hearing, 11/6/13)

“The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance has received reports of fraudulent activity. ‘We’ve been made aware of a few scams already,’ said Kate Abernathy, a spokeswoman for the state agency. ‘Just today, one of our navigator groups contacted us because they had heard about an individual claiming to be a navigator and charging consumers $100 to sign them up on the exchange.’” (“Scammers Targeting Elderly On Health Care,” Jackson Sun, 11/2/13)

• “‘Another scam involves unsolicited calls where the caller claims to have the consumer’s new ‘Obamacare Insurance Card’ — the caller just needs the consumer’s personal and financial information before they can send it to them,’ said Abernathy of the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance.” (“Scammers Targeting Elderly On Health Care,” Jackson Sun, 11/2/13)

Republicans Working To Protect Personal Data, Stop Obamacare

“U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) today is introducing legislation to combat fraud and protect consumers as ObamaCare’s website failures and the federal government are increasingly steering people toward non-web enrollment options that could lead to fraud and identify theft. … The bill’s original co-sponsors include Senators John Boozman (R-AR), Thad Cochran (R-MS), James Inhofe (R-OK), Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Pat Roberts (R-KS).” (Sen. Rubio, Press Release, 11/7/13)

• SEN. MARCO RUBIO (R-FL): “The ObamaCare exchange websites were supposed to be the primary means for people to buy health insurance, but due to their failures so far, the federal government is forcing people to pursue other enrollment options that could make them even more susceptible to identity theft, particularly through the navigator system. … It is unacceptable that President Obama suggest that the American people simply trust the federal government and its network of ObamaCare navigators.” (Sen. Rubio, Press Release, 11/7/13)

SEN. ORRIN HATCH (R-UT): “Citing concerns over the threat of fraud and abuse in the President’s $2.6 trillion health law, Finance Committee Ranking Member Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) today announced the Trust But Verify Act… ‘Until we can demonstrate to the public that their personal information is secure, we should not move forward with enrollment in the exchanges.  It’s just that simple. My legislation would ensure that the exchanges remain on ice until this threshold issue is addressed.’” (Sen. Hatch, Press Release, 9/17/13)

SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY): “Americans should not be forced to enter into exchanges when CMS is so ill-prepared to guarantee the protection of personal data and taxpayer resources from hackers and cyber criminals who would use this sensitive data for personal gain.” (Sen. McConnell, Letter To CMS Administrator Tavenner, 8/12/13)

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