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Healthy State tells the stories you need to know to stay well, with a special focus on Florida.We'll bring you the latest fitness trends, new research on preventing and treating disease, and information about how health policy impacts your pocketbook.We report on health using all the tools at our disposal -- video, audio, photos and text -- to bring these stories to life.Healthy State is a project of WUSF Public Media in Tampa and is heard on public radio stations throughout Florida. It also is available online at wusfnews.org.

Florida Blue Warns About Scam Calls For Health Insurance Enrollment

Open enrollment is underway for affordable care act marketplace health insurance plans - as well as some individual and family health plans.

But Florida Blue is one of the insurance companies warning consumers about fishy phone calls from fake insurance agents.

The automated messages incorrectly refer to the company as “Blue Cross” or “Blue Cross and Blue Shield."

The callers may also try to sell plans from other insurers, which Florida Blue would never do.

Christie Hyde DeNave, a spokeswoman with Florida Blue, said they're investigating the calls.

"We don't want any of our members, or any other consumers, becoming a victim of identity theft or fraudulent marketing, or anything else that could compromise their financial information,” DeNave said.

DeNave said official Florida Blue agents will never ask for banking information - or a full social security number. If consumers are skeptical about whether a call is legitimate, they should call Florida Blue – or their insurance company – directly.

"Hang up, and then call the number on the back of your membership card - or if there is an agent that you typically deal with that has a local office - call that person back. Don't ever continue to have a phone call if you feel uncomfortable."

DeNave said if you get one of these phone calls, record this information and report it to Florida Blue or the insurance company the caller claims to represent:

  • Whether the caller tried to reach you on a landline or mobile phone
  • Caller’s phone number
  • Time of day
  • What the caller said (be as specific as possible)
  • Whether you spoke to a live person or if it was a recorded message

I took my first photography class when I was 11. My stepmom begged a local group to let me into the adults-only class, and armed with a 35 mm disposable camera, I started my journey toward multimedia journalism.
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