State orders four companies to stop illegal health insurance solicitation

Florida insurance regulators Wednesday ordered Affinity Health Plans, National Alliance Healthcare, the National Trade Business Alliance Association, and the National Alliance of Associations to stop soliciting Florida consumers. Affinity and National Alliance Healthcare also must pay all outstanding claims and refund all money collected from Florida consumers within 10 days. According to regulators, Affinity and National are soliciting consumers through fax-blasting ads to purchase health insurance, dental insurance, hospitalization coverage, accident insurance, vision, hearing and chiropractic insurance. Because none of the companies is licensed by the state, each transaction is considered a felony under Florida law. "This kind of unethical business practice will not be tolerated, so I am stopping it," Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty said in a statement. "Consumers should not have to try to sort through scams like this when attempting to buy health insurance."

About 800 Florida consumers have purchased insurance through either Affinity or NAH since July 2006. The companies’ actions have generated numerous complaints and have led to more than $100,000 in unpaid claims. Consumers with questions or concerns should call the Department of Financial Services’ Consumer Helpline at 1-877-693-5236 or visit www.myfloridacfo.com.

- Times staff writer