Attorney General Kamala Harris announced the removal of 10 private health insurance websites that imitated Covered California. These websites were operated by private health insurance brokers or companies that were not affiliated with Covered California. Harris said, “My office will continue to investigate and shut down these kinds of sites.” Multiple website operators got cease and desist letters informing them that their websites violate state law and demanding the immediate removal of the website or transfer of the domain name to the state’s official exchange.
The websites have domain names similar to the state’s official healthcare exchange and contain unauthorized references to the official exchange’s trademarked logo and name. In several cases, websites used the phrases “Get Covered,” “Covered California,” and “California Health Benefit Advisers.” The following websites have been deactivated or redirected to the official exchange website:
www.californiabenefitexchange.com
www.californiahealthbenefitexchange.com
www.coveredcalifornia.com
www.shopinsuranceexchange.us
www.shopinsuranceservices.com
www.healthexchangeinsurance.com
www.shopforhealthcare.org
www.taxcreditinsurance.com
www.smallbusinesshealthoptionsprogram.com
www.stateexchanges.org