COLUMBUS — Ohio Department of Insurance Director Mary Jo Hudson has issued a consumer alert to Ohioans who may have purchased health insurance products from either Real Benefits Association (“RBA”) or the company’s owner, David Clark. Director Hudson also announced permanent Cease and Desist orders against two companies, the Association of Franchise and Independent Distributors (“AFID”) of Springfield, Ohio and The Beema Insurance Company of Pakistan after a Department investigation revealed that neither of these companies have a license to sell insurance products in the State of Ohio.
Ohioans who may have purchased a plan from RBA , Mr. Clark, BEEMA, or AFID should take notice that they are NOT properly licensed insurance companies or individuals in the State of Ohio, and they should cancel the policy, seek a refund, and seek coverage from a licensed Ohio company.
The State of North Carolina has also issued a Cease and Desist Order against Mr. Clark and his association, RBA. The North Carolina Cease and Desist Order requires Mr. Clark and RBA to stop their illegal insurance activities and to pay a fine in excess of $100,000. Mr. Clark also has recently entered into a Consent Order in his home state of New Jersey, in which his home state insurance license was revoked and he was fined $40,000.00 for his fraudulent insurance activity.
Ohioans who have purchased insurance from the any of above entities are encouraged to immediately contact the Department’s consumer services hotline at 1-800-686-1526. The Department’s staff can inform all affected consumers of different options for purchasing insurance from a licensed company, and also can provide consumers with information on insurers that are licensed in Ohio.
Ohioan who believe an agent is committing fraud or misconduct should call the Department’s fraud hotline at 1-800-686-1527. Information about agent fraud and misconduct can be found on the Department’s web site, www.insurance.ohio.gov.
Contact:
Jarrett Dunbar, Public Information Officer, (614) 644-2475