Healthcare consumer alert

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - If you're getting phone calls or e-mail offering special healthcare coverage, be careful. The Indiana Attorney General's Office is now investigating a Texas company for possibly violating the so-called, state "robo-call" statute.

It started with a voice mail message at 24-Hour News 8.

Phone Call Message to 24-Hour-News-8: "We're currently reaching out to help those who are uninsured and I wanted to let you know that you have been pre-qualified for a national healthcare program that'll only cost you and your family about $3 a day. We just need to get some basic information from you."

It claimed to be offering health insurance from the National Healthcare Association. News 8 returned the call and was led to a legitimate, Houston-based company called Family Care Inc., but it's not what people might think.

"They're thinking, well gee this is great because now I can get health insurance for much less than what I might normally have been spending,” said Carol Cutter of the Indiana Department of Insurance.

Cutter listened to the voice mail message and agrees it was misleading. She said the company is actually offering what amounts to coupons for health services and not actual health insurance.

"You'd be amazed how many people will sign up for this because they don't know it's not insurance," said Cutter.

State Insurance Commissioner Jim Atterholt has big concerns about such companies.

"It is somewhat of a racket. Because unless they're upfront about the doctors and the hospitals that they can give you a discount with here in Indiana and they want to take your money first, I'd hang up," said Indiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Atterholt.

News 8 called Family Care and got the run around. They said they'd have someone return the call Wednesday, but so far no one has called back.

The Indiana Attorney General's Office said a South Bend company has registered 95 phone call complaints against Family Care. Family Care states that their medical plan is not insurance on their Web site, but not in the voice mail message received by 24-Hour News 8.

Also, the Indiana Healthcare Association said it hasn't heard of any such group called, the National Healthcare Association.

The Indiana Department of Insurance said before you even consider any phone or e-mail offer for health benefits, check it out with them first.