Medicare open enrollment opens door to scams. Here are some key things to keep in mind
With the Dec. 7 deadline for Medicare’s open enrollment period looming, the pressure from companies — and crooks — selling options for health and drug coverage is building.
In addition to being inundated with ads for plans by mail, email, phone and on television, consumers of a certain age are especially likely to be contacted by scammers during this once-a-year window of opportunity to switch Medicare and drug coverage plans.
Florida’s department of consumer services, the Federal Trade Commission and Medicare itself are passing on tips to help you protect yourself from phishers, spammers, identity thieves and others exploiting the confusing maze of federal health care coverage.
Get help: For more information about Medicare enrollment
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The experts warn that a scammer may be hard to spot in the morass of Medicare alphabet soup that includes Parts A, B and C as well as HMOs (Health Maintenance Organizations), PPOs (Preferred Provider Organizations), SNPs (Special Needs Plans), MSAs (Medicare Medical Savings Accounts) and PFFS (Private Fee-for Service Plans).
A request for Medicare, Social Security numbers is a tipoff
Fraudsters peddling fake Medicare plans can look official, and they may pretend to be connected to the government or to a familiar sounding insurance company. They may call you, send a pitch in the mail, an email, a social media channel or a text message.
Then they might ask for your Medicare, Social Security or financial account numbers.
Medicare, however, doesn’t call people unexpectedly and ask for that private information.
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That means anyone reaching out to you and asking for those numbers is likely not acting in your best interests.
The first way to protect yourself is to follow a simple rule, experts say. Never give your personal information to anyone who initiates contact with you.
Don’t give your Medicare card, Medicare number, or Social Security number to anyone except your health care provider, or representatives of insurers acting on your behalf or working with Medicare. That can include your State Health Insurance Assistance Program, a program under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that provides guidance for local information on plans.
Protect your Medicare card the way you protect a credit card and keep your Medicare and Social Security Numbers as closely held secrets.
Rememer the old adage: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is
Your health information is personal as well. Don’t provide your medical history or give access to your medical records to anyone except your health care provider.
It’s equally important to protect the information on your phone or computer, by being alert to phishing attempts. Don’t click on any links, open any attachments or call any numbers that you receive unsolicited.
Don’t be swayed by offers of money or gifts. That’s another clue you’re talking to a con artist. A valid offer will still be available after you have checked it out. Don’t join any Medicare health or drug plan over the phone without first calling 1-800-MEDICARE.
You can also get guidance to compare Medicare costs, coverage, and plans from the State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) in all U.S. states and territories.
Finally, you can help others by spreading the word. If you are contacted by someone pretending to be from Medicare, report them to 1-800-MEDICARE and to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Antigone Barton is a reporter with The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at avbarton@pbpost.com. Help support our work: Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Medicare open enrollment brings scam offers. How to protect yourself
