Obamacare navigators to handle social security numbers, information, but no background check required
Obamacare navigators to handle social security numbers, information, but no background check required
Will Obamacare open up more citizens to a new wave of identity theft or fraud?
Identity thieves may come in the form of Obamacare assisters, says critics of the positions which don’t require any background checks
That is what some critics are saying as the Obamacare Navigators are being hired across the country to begin a push for enrollment into the exchanges.
Described as an “army of paper-pushers who are being hired to help individuals and families apply for ObamaCare subsidies starting on October 1” Newsbusters writer Tom Blumer outlines some of the risks associated with the program.
“If California’s situation is typical of what will be happening nationwide, the total number of “enrollment counselors,” also known as “navigators,” hired for this supposedly short-term task will be huge. In the tarnished Golden State alone, according to Judy Lin at the Associated Press, 21,000 counselors will be hired from among “an estimated 3,600 community organizations ranging from Native American tribes and chambers of commerce to labor unions and faith-based organizations that will be authorized to help people buy insurance.” Project that to the entire country, and we’re talking about roughly 175,000 counselors.”
The biggest area of concern appears to be the lack of scrutiny these individuals are receiving during a pre-hire screening process.
California Rep. Darrell Issa tweeted with concern that ‘Navigators’ or ‘Assisters’ could be convicted felons, identity thieves or worse.
@HHSGov officials confirmed w/@GOPoversight that convicted felons, identity thieves could serve as #ObamaCare ‘Navigators’ or ‘Assisters.’ – Darrell Issa ✔ @DarrellIssa
Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones also said the exchange does not have a plan for investigating any complaints that might arise once the counselors start work. That means consumers who might fall prey to bogus health care products, identity theft and other abuses will have a hard time seeking justice if unscrupulous counselors get ahold of their Social Security number, bank accounts, health records or other private information, he said.
“We can have a real disaster on our hands,” Jones, a Democrat, said in an interview with Reason’s Hit and Run blog
[…] There are no specific requirements to handle this personal information and critics are concerned that identity theft could be a problem – more here […]
[…] There are no specific requirements to handle this personal information and critics are concerned that identity theft could be a problem – more here […]
[…] Screening Jul 262013 Obamacare navigators to handle social security numbers, information, but no … – The Glob… – theglobaldispatch.com 07/25/2013 Obamacare navigators to handle social security numbers, […]