Medicaid recipients in Pennsylvania are being urged to stay vigilant as scammers target them through text messages falsely claiming lapsed coverage and demanding payments. Attorney General Michelle Henry issued the warning, emphasizing the evolving nature of scams and the need for consumers to be cautious.
Recent reports have identified a surge in fraudulent text messages being sent to individuals enrolled in Medicaid. These messages redirect the recipient to a phone representative who then insists on immediate payment to maintain healthcare coverage. Common impersonated company names in these messages include “Health Services,” “Health Solutions,” and “Innovative Partners.”
Attorney General Henry advised, “Always be wary of unsolicited contact. It’s essential never to provide payment details over the phone, through text, or online unless you are certain of the legitimacy of the requester.”
Several phone numbers have been linked to this scam, including 855-572-6201, 863-222-9611, 224-258-0570, 833-369-2932, and 888-677-6074. Importantly, none of these numbers have any association with the Department of Human Services (DHS). Any suspicious communications related to Medicaid or other DHS-regulated benefits programs should be reported to the DHS Fraud Tip-line at 1-844-DHS-TIPS.
The Department of Human Services highlighted that while they do send informational texts and calls from the number 1-833-648-1964 to beneficiaries of programs like SNAP and Medicaid, they will never:
- Share specific benefit details.
- Request personal details.
- Direct recipients to unofficial websites. Most DHS communications will direct individuals to official .gov or .org sites, like dhs.pa.gov or COMPASS.
For any uncertainties regarding the authenticity of a communication, Pennsylvanians are encouraged to contact their local County Assistance Office or the DHS Customer Service Center at 1-877-395-8930. Comprehensive details about genuine DHS communications, as well as safe Medicaid renewal methods, can be accessed at www.dhs.pa.gov/StayCovered.
For a broader understanding of scams related to public assistance programs, the Department of Human Services’ website serves as a comprehensive resource.
