Recently, the NFL has begun to tackle insurance fraud within the league’s healthcare benefit program.
In December 2019, the league determined that Joe Horn, a former receiver for the New Orleans Saints, conspired to defraud the healthcare system. The lawsuit involves upward of a dozen former players who collectively submitted nearly $4 million worth of false healthcare claims, according to the Department of Justice.
Horn, who will be sentenced in April 2020, can face up to 10 years in prison. But since he cooperated in the investigation, he may receive a lesser sentence.
Healthcare fraud closer to home
While this particular example originated in New Orleans, Houston is one of the metro areas that federal authorities are monitoring closely for instances of healthcare fraud as it is increasing in the area.
Think it may be worth it the risk?
Think again.
While defrauding the healthcare system is only a civil offense, authorities are beginning to crack down and levy increasingly harsher charges.