Maine Insurance Superintendent Eric Cioppa is urging residents who don’t have health insurance to buy coverage during the special Affordable Care Act open enrollment period that runs until May 15, but he also warned them to be aware of potentially deceptive sales practices.

“Mainers should be sure to use trustworthy sources to get the best health care coverage at the best price,” Cioppa said in a news release. “We’ve received complaints from consumers who purchased plans they thought provided comprehensive coverage, but that actually have very limited benefits.”

Cioppa said consumers are sometimes confused by online ads and phone solicitations urging them to buy an insurance product, or are taken advantage of by deceptive sale practices. He noted that the only comprehensive health plans approved for sale directly to individuals in Maine are offered by Anthem HealthPlans of Maine, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Maine Community Health Options.

Comprehensive health plans are those that provide broad coverage for a wide range of health services such as office visits, lab work, emergency room visits, hospitalizations and medications, he said. Unlike other plan types that may be sold, comprehensive plans also are required by law to pay for a certain percentage of medical costs.

Cioppa recommended Maine’s online health insurance marketplace, CoverME.gov, to those shopping for individual plans. Those without internet access can seek help by calling (800) 965-7476, he said.

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