The Affordable Care Act will take effect on October 1, 2013, and scammers have already begun to take advantage of the new program and guidelines. In addition to healthcare coverage, robocallers are trying to entice people to give out personal information by claiming they have won a free gift or upgrade to certain medical alert systems. Here’s a look at both issues.

There is no way for anyone to enroll in any type of health care plan under the Affordable Care Act prior to October 1, 2013. People who are uninsured and those who buy their own coverage should be aware that scammers are standing by to steal  information and give false answers. Under no circumstances should anyone give out private health details, social security numbers, or account information. For more information on this important issue call 1-800-318-2596. Representatives are available 24/7 and you can also visit www.HealthCare.gov.

As explained in last month’s post , Are Rachel and the Robocallers Rattling Your Line?, auto dialers bypass the Do Not Call Registry and try to engage a live person with prerecorded interactive sale techniques. A pleasant voice informs you that you have won a gift, free upgrade, or are eligible for special deals on a Medical Alert system. Once a person responds by pressing a button, a live operator asks for credit card and bank information as well as more personal data. With just one click you can become a victim of Identity Theft and your personal finances will suffer . For help and  additional information on telemarketing and/or unwanted calls visit www.ftc.gov or call 1-877-382-4357.

Your health is your business and a few preventive measures can make a big difference in how you feel. Take care and don’t share your personal data.