MONTPELIER, VT -- The following information was released by the Vermont Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities & Health Care Administration:
The Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities and Health Care Administration is warning Vermonters to watch out for fraudulent companies and individuals claiming to be health insurers or agents of health insurers who take the money of unwary consumers but do not pay claims.
'We have received complaints from people here in Vermont and uncovered twenty-five apparently related companies and individuals, operating here and in other states or overseas, who offer health insurance coverage but don't step up when it's time to pay a claim,' said Commissioner Stephen Kimbell. 'We are taking steps to stop them,' he said, but warned consumers to be vigilant. 'These policies are often sold through professional-looking websites claiming that a person just has to join a certain association to get insured,' said Kimbell. 'I urge everyone to do research before buying insurance from an unknown company, especially one that advertises only on the internet or by unsolicited e-mails or faxes. If you're in doubt, call us.'
The Vermont Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities and Health Care Administration (BISHCA) today issued an order requiring the cited companies and individuals to stop selling insurance in Vermont. A list of cited companies and individuals is included in this release and is available at the BISHCA website under 'press releases' and 'orders.'
List of Companies Named in Today's Cease and Desist Order
Companies that sold illegal insurance to Vermont residents
UNITED STATE CONTRACTORS TRUST
METROPOLITAN BUSINESS ALLIANCE, LLC d/b/a NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
BUSINESS LEADERSHIP
CEO CLUBS, INC.
Other Companies
AMERICAN TRADEASSOCIATION, LTD a/k/a ATA
REAL BENEFITS ASSOCIATION a/k/a RBA
SERVE AMERICA ASSURANCE, LTD
WORLDWIDE FAMILY BENEFITS ASSOCIATION, INC.
INTEGRATED INSURANCE MARKETING, INC d/b/a AIM HEALTH PLANS, INC.
BEEMA-PAKISTAN COMPANY LIMITED d/b/a BEEMA INSURANCE COMPANY d/b/a
BEEMA INSURANCE COMPANY-PAKISTAN d/b/a BEEMA-PAKISTAN, LTD
HUDSON VALLEY CONSULTANTS, LLC d/b/a CEO CLUBS BENEFITS
REAL BENEFITS ASSOCIATION, LLC
SOUTHEAST INSURANCE ADVISORS, LLC
INSURANCE RESOURCE GROUP
WILSHARE HOLDING, LLC
VIKING ADMINISTRATORS, LLC
ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT MANAGERS
STAR GROUP/PHOENIX INSURANCE COMPANY
UNITED STATES CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION
VENTURE SUPPORT GROUP, LLC
AMERICANS FOR AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE, INC
SPENCER and ASSOCIATES, LLC
PINNACLE HEALTH SOLUTIONS
SMART DATA SOLUTIONS, LLC
Individuals
WILLIAM M. WORTHY, II
COLIN JACK YOUELL
MIRZA SHAHNAWAZ AGHA
MIRZA ZAHEER 'ZEKE' AGHA
SAIFUDDIN AHMED
CHRISTOPHER ASHIOTES
RICHARD H. BACHMAN
JOE BENEDETTO
KATHLEEN D. CAUTHEN
WALTER R. CECCHINI JR.
DAVID L. CLARK
LOUIS DELUCA
JAMES M. DOYLE
KEVIN R. DUNN
RICHARD DUNN
GARY L. KARNS, JR.
ARNOLD H. KATZ
LINDA KIRKPATRICK
OBED KIRKPATRICK
JASON WINGROVE
JOHN MILLER
JOSEPH MANCUSO
DAVID L. NELLSON a/k/a DAVIS L. NELLSON a/k/a DAVID NELSON
PAUL OLZESKI
ANGIE POSEY
BART S. POSEY SR.
DAVID BRIAN RUTSTEIN
MICHAEL SCHULTZ
THOMAS J. SULLIVAN
PETER WALSH
