Following recent news around workplace benefits fraud, the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association (CLHIA) has published a new advisory which warns that many Canadians do not fully understand the ramifications of benefits fraud.
CLHIA cited a 2018 survey conducted by Environics Research, stating that 75% of insured Canadians believe the main consequence of benefits fraud is having to pay higher premiums, or to reimburse claim payments.
The association stressed that health and dental benefits fraud is a real crime, and consequences include loss or reduction of benefits, loss of employment, a criminal record, fines and even prison time.
CLHIA recently sponsored the program called “Fraud=Fraud,” an initiative aimed at educating Canadians about benefits fraud so that they can “recognize it, refuse it and report it,” a statement on the campaign’s website explained.
The Fraud=Fraud program is encouraging all Canadians to report benefits fraud, whether perpetrated by health/dental service providers or plan members. The initiative’s website has links to a form that allows tipsters to report anonymously.
