| There’s a new kind of health plan being sold by telemarketers these days. More than 100,000 US households have been enrolled already. Here’s what’s new about these plans: When you sign up for coverage, you’re also being signed up as an “employee” of the company behind the plan. What kind of work? Often, it’s as minimal as using an app on your phone that tracks your web-surfing activity or location. According to the companies behind these new plans, this helps turn you into an “employee” under the federal benefits law known as Employee Retirement Income Security Act. Because they’re Erisa plans, the plans’ promoters say, they aren’t required to meet the minimum Affordable Care Act standards for marketplace plans — a list of basics like hospitalization and emergency-room visits. And, the promoters say, the plans aren’t insurance, which means state insurance departments have no jurisdiction. The US Labor Department disagrees, and the matter is the subject of a long-running dispute in federal court. Meanwhile, enrollments are climbing, and some states have been warning their residents to be careful before they sign up. These plans can cost as little as $100 a month, compared with around $381 for the cheapest insurance on the Affordable Care Act marketplace. I found hundreds of complaints to state and federal regulators and the Better Business Bureau filed by people who bought these health plans through telemarketers. Many thought they were buying regular health insurance and ended up stuck with unexpected medical bills. The people who create and administer these plans typically rely on third-party salespeople to market them, and they say they can’t be held responsible if one of these salespeople misrepresents a plan’s benefits. Nevertheless, they say they are working to identify and terminate call centers that don’t meet expectations. Your state insurance department has information about finding comprehensive health insurance in your state. You can also check out healthcare.gov, the federal government website for the Affordable Care Act marketplace. My story is part of a larger project I’ve been working on this year. Along with my colleague Zeke Faux, we’ve been investigating the shady side of health-care telemarketing. If you’ve found yourself enrolled in a health plan like this and want to share your story, get in touch with me at zmider1@bloomberg.net. — Zachary R. Mider | 
