U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz said new federal anti-fraud actions are targeting healthcare enrollment.
The crackdown aims to protect taxpayers by curbing alleged fraud within the Affordable Care Act, Medicare, and Medicaid systems. Officials said that the lack of proper identification for many enrollees has created a significant financial vulnerability for the government.
During a White House Anti-Fraud Task Force briefing in Washington, D.C., on June 28, 2026 [1], the officials said that more than 1 million people enrolled in Obamacare lack Social Security numbers [2]. Kennedy said that this specific gap in identification is a primary target for the new enforcement efforts.
"More than 1 million people enrolled in Obamacare lack Social Security numbers," Kennedy said [3]. He said those committing fraud are being actively pursued by the government, stating, "We’re going to find you. This fraud is costing taxpayers billions" [4].
Dr. Mehmet Oz, who serves as the Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, said the scope of the initiative is broad. He said that these new anti-fraud actions will safeguard Medicare, Medicaid, and the American taxpayer [5].
The task force is focusing on the intersection of identification requirements and eligibility for federal health subsidies. By targeting enrollees without valid Social Security numbers, the administration intends to remove ineligible participants from the system and recover lost funds. The move comes as part of a broader effort to tighten oversight of federal healthcare spending and ensure that benefits reach qualified citizens.
“"More than 1 million people enrolled in Obamacare lack Social Security numbers."”
This initiative signals a shift toward aggressive eligibility verification in federal healthcare programs. By specifically targeting the 1 million enrollees without Social Security numbers, the administration is prioritizing the removal of undocumented or ineligible participants to reduce federal spending. This may lead to a significant number of individuals losing coverage if they cannot provide valid identification.
