State warns of insurance scams as MNsure gets underway

State insurance regulators are warning consumers to be on the alert for scams as major changes under the federal health care law get underway.

Open enrollment on Minnesota's new online insurance marketplace, MNsure, won't begin until October first but state commerce officials say bogus websites that give the impression they're part of the new marketplaces have been appearing for months.

Officials say consumers shouldn't enter any personal or financial information into a website that say you can buy a policy before October first.

The commerce department says Minnesotans should be on the guard for scams that have occurred in other states. One includes con artists who make unsolicited calls and claim to have a new "Obamacare" insurance card but require your social security information, credit card numbers or bank account information.

Regulators say MNsure will not be directly contacting individual consumers to sell them insurance.