Facebook post about health credits is scam, targets users younger than 65 | Fact check

Gabrielle Settles, USA TODAY
·3 min read

The claim: The government is giving Americans under 65 thousands in health credits every month

A Dec. 20, 2023, Facebook video (direct link, archive link) shows people checking their computers and clips of computer and phone screens displaying information about health credits.

“This is an absurd amount of money to be giving away," says a narrator in the video. "Every American family needs to see this. The gov (sic) is giving away $6,400. And I just got approved to receive it each month because I’m younger than 65 and make less than $50,000 per year."

The narrator says applicants must answer two questions online and then speak to someone on the phone to ensure eligibility for the money.

The post was shared more than 50 times in less than two weeks.

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Our rating: False

There is no evidence the government is giving away $6,400 a month to Americans under 65. The post links to a website that is unaffiliated with the government.

Scam sites use social media to target individuals

There is no mention of the supposed health credit program on the websites of the Department of Health and Human Services or the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. There are likewise no credible news reports about such a program.

The Facebook post directs users to click on a link to "apply" for the program. The link brings them to a third-party website that directs them to answer a series of questions. They are then provided a phone number to call.

However, a message at the bottom of that website states it is “not affiliated with the Affordable Cares Act (sic) program or any other government entity.” It also discloses that the website “may receive paid compensation for clicks or sales produced from the content found on this webpage.”

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When asked about the claim, HHS spokesperson Sara Lombardo directed USA TODAY to a fact sheet about how scammers use fraudulent websites and social media schemes similar to the Facebook post to steal money.

“Scammers may use various social media platforms and chat applications to contact you and direct you to fake websites, online chats, chat boxes, or live customer support in order to lure you into providing your personal or financial information,” the fact sheet says.

The HHS further states on the fact sheet that it will not message people through social media to begin a grant application and to look for official HHS websites that use the .gov domain in the URL. A key sign the Facebook-linked website isn't legitimate is that it has a .org domain.

A Health Insurance Marketplace fact sheet says uninsured Americans could be eligible for no- or low-cost health insurance through Medicaid or subsidized health insurance through the marketplace. The fact sheet states these incentives can come in the form of health credits that can be used to help pay for health insurance but vary by income rather than being a set figure like what was offered in the Facebook post.

USA TODAY reached out to the user who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: No evidence government is giving $6,400 in health credits | Fact check