Health care fraud is committed when false or misleading information is submitted to improperly increase the amount of health care benefits paid. It is a crime.

The cost of fraud affects everyone. The U.S. General Accounting Office estimates that health care fraud costs consumers approximately $35 to $60 billion dollars annually. For employers, fraud increases the cost of providing benefits and their overall cost of doing business. This translates into higher premiums and out-of-pocket costs for employees.

Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Efforts

Independence Blue Cross (IBC) helps to protect our members and providers from fraudulent and abusive practices through our Corporate and Financial Investigations Department, which has recovered or saved $183 million from January 1, 2001 to December 31, 2007, with an additional $67.4 million identified but not yet recovered. We owe much of our success to members, doctors, and other providers who have been instrumental in reporting fraud.

If you know of or suspect health insurance fraud, please report it. You are not required to provide identifying information about yourself when reporting fraud. Call the toll-free Fraud Hotline, 1-866-282-2707 (TTY/TDD 1-888-789-0429), 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, or use the online tip referral form.