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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallThe FTC announced a $100 million judgment against Assurance IQ in August 2025 over alleged deceptive health insurance marketing—not in 2023. The judgment was part of two separate FTC actions announced together: Assurance’s $100 million judgment and a $45 million judgment against lead-generation company MediaAlpha. The FTC’s later status report says the Assurance order was entered August 11, 2025, and the case terminated September 12, 2025.
What the FTC alleged Assurance IQ did
According to the FTC’s August 7, 2025 announcement, Assurance telemarketers sold short-term medical plans and limited-benefit indemnity plans alongside supplemental products such as telemedicine, prescription-discount, dental, and vision-discount plans. The agency alleged that marketing misrepresented costs and benefits, including coverage for preexisting conditions, benefit caps, provider networks, and which supplemental products were included. The complaint also alleged that Assurance charged consumers without first obtaining express informed consent.
These were allegations in the FTC complaint. The remedies in the stipulated order are separate: they establish what Assurance is prohibited from doing and what it must do going forward.
What the Assurance order requires
The FTC announced a $100 million judgment for Telemarketing Sales Rule violations, intended for consumer refunds. The order prohibits specified express and implied misrepresentations about coverage, benefits, costs, whether products are included at no additional cost, whether plans are ACA-compliant or comprehensive insurance, and whether provider networks reduce medical bills.
It also requires Assurance to support plan claims with competent and reliable evidence, provide truthful disclosures about costs and limitations, and obtain express informed consent before billing consumers.
Why MediaAlpha is part of the same announcement
The FTC announced a separate action against MediaAlpha, which it described as a lead-generation company. The agency alleged that MediaAlpha used healthcare quote websites to collect information from people seeking insurance and sell it to telemarketers; some domains allegedly implied government affiliation, and consumers received calls about products that did not provide the promised coverage.
The MediaAlpha judgment was $45 million. Its order included restrictions on deceptive representations, monitoring requirements, transfer of certain domains, and consent requirements for collecting, selling, or disclosing personal information. The FTC said MediaAlpha generated approximately 119 million consumer leads in 2024.
| Defendant | FTC action described | Judgment announced | Order provisions described |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assurance IQ | Alleged deceptive marketing and billing practices involving health plans and related products | $100 million, intended for consumer refunds | Restrictions on misrepresentations; substantiation and disclosure requirements; express informed consent before billing |
| MediaAlpha | Alleged deceptive lead generation and data sharing involving healthcare quote websites | $45 million | Restrictions on deceptive representations; monitoring; transfer of certain domains; consumer consent requirements for personal information |
The FTC announced the two judgments together, for a combined $145 million, but they concern separate defendants and actions. FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection Director Christopher Mufarrige said: “Consumers should receive accurate, truthful, and non-misleading information about the coverage insurance provides.”
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What happened after the announcement
The FTC’s December 2025 litigation status report says the Assurance order was entered August 11, 2025, and the case terminated September 12, 2025. That later procedural update clarifies the status: the Assurance action is not a 2023 settlement, and the order was entered after the August announcement.
How to check a health plan offer before paying
If you are looking to get or switch health insurance, the FTC recommends taking these steps before sharing payment information:
- Get plan information in writing and review the benefits, limits, exclusions, and costs.
- Determine whether the offer is health insurance, a medical discount plan, or another product.
- Contact your providers directly to verify whether they accept the plan and what you are likely to pay.
- Search the plan or company name with terms such as “complaint,” “scam,” or “fraud.”
- Report misleading advertising to the FTC.
These checks can help distinguish what marketing promises from what a plan actually covers. A discount product, for example, should not be treated as insurance merely because it is offered alongside a medical plan.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Does the judgment mean you are entitled to a refund?
The FTC described the Assurance judgment as intended for consumer refunds, but that description alone does not establish whether a particular person qualifies, when payments will be made, or how to file an individual claim. The available FTC materials cited here do not provide current refund eligibility or claim instructions. Check the FTC’s official updates for any consumer refund information before relying on a claim notice or giving anyone financial details.
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