Since we are in the "open enrollment" time of year for healthcare:
Avoiding ‘open enrollment’ scams
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November 14, 2017
by Andrew Johnson
Consumer Education Specialist, FTC
Open enrollment is here. Whether you’re eligible for Medicare, selecting a plan through the Affordable Care Act (ACA), or have private insurance, you have until December 15 to compare plans and make coverage changes. But as you’re keeping an eye out for the best options, also keep an eye out for scammers. Here are a few tips for avoiding scams this open enrollment season.
Eligible for Medicare?
Anyone that tries to sell you Medicare insurance while claiming to be an “official Medicare agent” is a scammer. There are no Medicare sales representatives.
The Medicare prescription drug plan (also known as Part D) is voluntary. Ignore anyone who calls saying you must join their prescription plan or you will lose your Medicare coverage.
Do not give any information over the phone to someone who tells you that you must provide information to keep your coverage.
If you need help with Medicare, call 1-800-MEDICARE or go to Medicare.gov.
Looking for coverage under the Affordable Care Act?
Only shop for coverage at HealthCare.gov. People who try to sign you up elsewhere may be scammers.
Need free assistance? There are people and groups in your community who can help you find coverage and enroll in a plan — and it’s free! To make sure they are legitimate, use the local help resource at HealthCare.gov
Buying private insurance?
Make sure insurance is what you’re really getting. There are many medical discount plans that pretend to be insurance, but they are not. Your state insurance commissioner’s office can tell you if a plan is insurance or not and whether the seller is licensed in your state.
Think you’ve spotted a scam? Report it to the FTC. If the scam is Medicare related, report it at Medicare.gov. And share these tips with your friends and family. It just might help them avoid a scam this open season.
Tagged with: health insurance, scam
Blog Topics:
Health & Fitness
Comments
peterdzurko81 | November 14, 2017 |
reply
Tanks
tappydog | November 14, 2017 |
reply
I hate the crooks that advertise on TV for extra items you can get with their medicare insurance, e.g. glasses, appliances, etc. And they make it sound like they are actually medicare, rather than the private and expensive supplemental insurance that they actually are.
s1m1varela | November 14, 2017 |
reply
Thank You. I Believe, I have already received a scam and have forwarded to the FTC.
ks2519 | November 14, 2017 |
reply
You may want to recheck your facts before you post a blog with inaccurate information and calling legitimate people (qualified, licensed health insurance agents) scammers. You stated: "Only shop for coverage at HealthCare.gov. People who try to sign you up elsewhere may be scammers." If you go to healthcare.gov, you will see that licensed health insurance agents ARE able to sell insurance offered through the Marketplace. These are qualified individuals who understand health insurance products and who can help consumers who need help understanding health plans. Here is a link from Healthcare.gov for further information: https:// www. healthcare. gov/ glossary/ agent/
Bridget Small - FTC | November 14, 2017 |
reply
If you need free help to find coverage and enroll in a plan, use the local help resource at HealthCare.gov.
ALA181 | November 17, 2017 |
reply
Even still, it is best to be leery and check their credentials. There's no way to be 100% safe unless you do checks yourself.
Hank | November 14, 2017 |
reply
Tapppydog - Those advertisements aren't for supplemental insurance plans. Those advertisements that promise you the moon (plus all the things that regular Medicare does not cover are watered down Medicare Advantage plans. With a Medicare Advantage plan you have to pay deductibles and can only do to see certain doctors and clinics. Vert restrictive!!!
HR | November 14, 2017 |
reply
Open enrollment for private insurance can be at any time of the year. It is not restricted to the same time frame.
Rock | November 14, 2017 |
reply
There are many good people in this world, then there are the scum/low-lives.
Tom L | November 14, 2017 |
reply
Also, even with legit plans make sure your doctor accepts the plan. Request a list of participating drs and specialists.
then call them to make sure. The plan should be listed in the annual medicare and you 2018 book sent out by the centers for medicare and medicaid services. It is the official U.S. Government hand book
marina52 | November 14, 2017 |
reply
Thank you for the advice I will be vigilant
JUST4U | November 14, 2017 |
reply
Thanks for such valuable information. Alvin Singh
Minnie Bee | November 15, 2017 |
reply
Beware of emails telling you to enroll in “Trumpcarr-AHCA.” This was not passed by Congress andcdoesnt exist. It’s a scam! Report to the FTC.
Avoiding ‘open enrollment’ scams
Share This Page
Linked-In
November 14, 2017
by Andrew Johnson
Consumer Education Specialist, FTC
Open enrollment is here. Whether you’re eligible for Medicare, selecting a plan through the Affordable Care Act (ACA), or have private insurance, you have until December 15 to compare plans and make coverage changes. But as you’re keeping an eye out for the best options, also keep an eye out for scammers. Here are a few tips for avoiding scams this open enrollment season.
Eligible for Medicare?
Anyone that tries to sell you Medicare insurance while claiming to be an “official Medicare agent” is a scammer. There are no Medicare sales representatives.
The Medicare prescription drug plan (also known as Part D) is voluntary. Ignore anyone who calls saying you must join their prescription plan or you will lose your Medicare coverage.
Do not give any information over the phone to someone who tells you that you must provide information to keep your coverage.
If you need help with Medicare, call 1-800-MEDICARE or go to Medicare.gov.
Looking for coverage under the Affordable Care Act?
Only shop for coverage at HealthCare.gov. People who try to sign you up elsewhere may be scammers.
Need free assistance? There are people and groups in your community who can help you find coverage and enroll in a plan — and it’s free! To make sure they are legitimate, use the local help resource at HealthCare.gov
Buying private insurance?
Make sure insurance is what you’re really getting. There are many medical discount plans that pretend to be insurance, but they are not. Your state insurance commissioner’s office can tell you if a plan is insurance or not and whether the seller is licensed in your state.
Think you’ve spotted a scam? Report it to the FTC. If the scam is Medicare related, report it at Medicare.gov. And share these tips with your friends and family. It just might help them avoid a scam this open season.
Tagged with: health insurance, scam
Blog Topics:
Health & Fitness
Comments
peterdzurko81 | November 14, 2017 |
reply
Tanks
tappydog | November 14, 2017 |
reply
I hate the crooks that advertise on TV for extra items you can get with their medicare insurance, e.g. glasses, appliances, etc. And they make it sound like they are actually medicare, rather than the private and expensive supplemental insurance that they actually are.
s1m1varela | November 14, 2017 |
reply
Thank You. I Believe, I have already received a scam and have forwarded to the FTC.
ks2519 | November 14, 2017 |
reply
You may want to recheck your facts before you post a blog with inaccurate information and calling legitimate people (qualified, licensed health insurance agents) scammers. You stated: "Only shop for coverage at HealthCare.gov. People who try to sign you up elsewhere may be scammers." If you go to healthcare.gov, you will see that licensed health insurance agents ARE able to sell insurance offered through the Marketplace. These are qualified individuals who understand health insurance products and who can help consumers who need help understanding health plans. Here is a link from Healthcare.gov for further information: https:// www. healthcare. gov/ glossary/ agent/
Bridget Small - FTC | November 14, 2017 |
reply
If you need free help to find coverage and enroll in a plan, use the local help resource at HealthCare.gov.
ALA181 | November 17, 2017 |
reply
Even still, it is best to be leery and check their credentials. There's no way to be 100% safe unless you do checks yourself.
Hank | November 14, 2017 |
reply
Tapppydog - Those advertisements aren't for supplemental insurance plans. Those advertisements that promise you the moon (plus all the things that regular Medicare does not cover are watered down Medicare Advantage plans. With a Medicare Advantage plan you have to pay deductibles and can only do to see certain doctors and clinics. Vert restrictive!!!
HR | November 14, 2017 |
reply
Open enrollment for private insurance can be at any time of the year. It is not restricted to the same time frame.
Rock | November 14, 2017 |
reply
There are many good people in this world, then there are the scum/low-lives.
Tom L | November 14, 2017 |
reply
Also, even with legit plans make sure your doctor accepts the plan. Request a list of participating drs and specialists.
then call them to make sure. The plan should be listed in the annual medicare and you 2018 book sent out by the centers for medicare and medicaid services. It is the official U.S. Government hand book
marina52 | November 14, 2017 |
reply
Thank you for the advice I will be vigilant
JUST4U | November 14, 2017 |
reply
Thanks for such valuable information. Alvin Singh
Minnie Bee | November 15, 2017 |
reply
Beware of emails telling you to enroll in “Trumpcarr-AHCA.” This was not passed by Congress andcdoesnt exist. It’s a scam! Report to the FTC.
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