You can face very serious consequences if you have been accused of any sort of insurance fraud. Most people use their insurance in the way that it should be used. Unfortunately, some people try to file claims for services that they did not receive, or otherwise commit fraud. And there are also people who make honest mistakes but end up being accused of fraud.
Many Idaho insurance fraud laws mention actions that the insurance companies as well as the insured people have taken that are not considered legal in Idaho. They are the following:
- Defrauding or deceiving: A person has the intention to acquire money or some other benefit or presents a statement as part of a claim requesting payment or some other benefit and they intentionally provided false information.
- Helps, solicits, abets or conspires: If a person knowingly does any of these things and issues a statement that is going to be presented to the insurer as part of a claim to receive compensation or some other benefit, intentionally knowing that the information that they submitted was false.
- Presenting a false or changed statement: A person who intentionally presents false information that is material to the insurance claim.
- A false statement to extend worker’s compensation: A person who knowingly makes a false claim in order to have worker’s compensation extended.
What is the consequence for violating any insurance fraud laws?
Insurance fraud is considered a felony. A person who has been accused and convicted of insurance fraud may get up to 15 years in prison, a maximum fine of $15,000 or both. Additionally, if the person is convicted of the crime, they will be ordered to make restitution to the insurance company or another person who sustained a loss because of the fraud. The law regards every fraud offense as separate from the other(s) and the penalties will be separate.
If you have been accused of insurance fraud, it may greatly affect your future in addition to your possibly having to pay a fine and/or serve prison time. It may also greatly affect your future prospects at a good life, both professionally and personally. That is why you need to do everything possible to protect your rights and to make sure that you have to best shot at putting your troubles behind you and looking forward to the future.