Feds crack down on health care firm for ‘sham’ insurance plans

Tampa health care company Benefytt Technologies, along with two subsidiaries and two former executives, has come under fire from a federal agency for, according to a news release, lying to consumers about “sham” health insurance plans and using deceptive lead-generation websites, such as “Obamacareplans.com,” to stoke sales.

The Federal Trade Commission has ordered the company to pay $100 million in refunds to customers, who, the agency says, were also charged exorbitant junk fees for add-on products without their permission — violations of the Restore Online Shoppers Confidence Act.