Medicare Open Enrollment is a period of time between October 15 and December 7, which allows you to choose the plan that’s best for you in the next year. During this time, you can get help with comparing Medicare plans from State Health Insurance Assistance Programs, or SHIPs. There are also private insurance companies that may administer, market and sell some Medicare plans, including Part C and Part D. Here’s what you need to know about keeping yourself safe from scams during this open enrollment period.
1. Know Your Rights During a Medicare Appointment
If you do make an appointment with an agent who is selling or distributing Medicare coverage, there are certain rules and regulations the agent has to follow. Here are a few of the things that an agent legally cannot do:
- Give you information about Medicare or insurance products that you didn’t ask to talk about in your “scope of appointment” form.
- Promise extra benefits for signing up early.
- Threaten to take away your benefits if you don’t sign up for a specific plan.
- Suggest that Medicare endorses or prefers a specific plan from them.
If an agent does any of these things, you can report them to the Social Security Administration. They aren’t allowed to do any of them.
2. Know How Companies Selling Medicare Plans Can Contact You
Marketing violations are another thing to look out for when it comes to avoiding scams or threatening agents. Companies that are selling Medicare plans can only contact you after you’ve established a relationship with them. They cannot put leaflets, flyers, door hangers or any other advertising products on your car or your home unless you’ve already reached out to them directly. Additionally, agents can’t come to your home without an invitation or mislead you about your coverage.
3. Understand What Medicare Is and Is Not
Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people who are 65 and older or certain younger people with disabilities. Medicare Part D, which is the type of coverage that most agents will sell, helps you cover the cost of prescription drugs. Medicare Part D requires that you join a Medicare-approved plan that gives at least a standard level of coverage. Different plans may vary the list of drugs they cover as well as the different monthly premiums.
Remember that Original Medicare is an insurance plan from the federal government, while Medicare Advantage is a Medicare-approved plan from a private company. Medicare Advantage Plans must follow Medicare’s coverage rules but may have different out-of-pocket costs and rules for how you receive services. If a program is called “Medicare Advantage,” it is a private plan that is Medicare-approved.
4. Avoid Scams With Extra Call Blocking
Extra call blocking can help you avoid scams that are completely out of nowhere. While placing yourself on the Do Not Call registry can help you avoid some types of telemarketing, it doesn’t do much when it comes to scammers, as these scammers don’t mind breaking the law to get your money. That’s where a secondary tool like call blocking from PeopleFinders can come into play.
With IdentityWatch, the PeopleFinders free mobile app, you can get automatic scans of incoming callers. That means if a number has routinely been reported as a scammer, you can get an automatic notification, allowing you to hang up before the scammer even has a chance to talk to you. This is one of the best ways to avoid Medicare scams and other scams of all types.
Conclusion
Medicare scams are unfortunately common, especially because many people who are eligible for Medicare find it very confusing. If someone can confuse you into purchasing a plan you don’t need or overpaying for a plan, they may take that chance. The best way for you to stay safe is to know your rights, including how an agent can and cannot interact with you, and to use IdentityWatch to make sure you know about scammers calling your phone before you pick up.
Image Attribution: Andrey – stock.adobe.com
