This Medicare Open Enrollment season, discover ways to shield your self from scams

Every yr, scammers get extra lively round Medicare Open Enrollment Period, attempting to get your cash, info, or each. As you think about your well being protection and prescription choices throughout this era (October 15-December 7), study to identify the scams.

First, know that scammers usually impersonate Medicare and phone you unexpectedly. They may sound skilled and even have a few of your private info. They’ll say you want a “new” or “updated” Medicare card and ask in your Medicare, checking account, or bank card quantity. But actual Medicare playing cards are free and mailed to you routinely. And true Medicare representatives received’t name, textual content, or e-mail you out of the blue to ask in your numbers or a cost.

Here are some methods to guard your self from Medicare scams throughout Open Enrollment — and year-round:

• Ignore surprising calls from anybody who calls for you share Medicare, private, or monetary info. Medicare will solely ask you to confirm info if you contact them first, and so they received’t attempt to promote you something or let you know to pay in your Medicare card. Only scammers try this.
• Don’t depend on your caller ID. It may present Medicare’s identify or telephone quantity, however caller ID will be faked. To test it out, grasp up and name 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
• Get assist to check prices, protection, and plans. Contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for help. And discover details about your protection choices at Medicare.gov — the official U.S. authorities web site for Medicare — or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.

Report Medicare impersonators and different Medicare scams at 1-800-MEDICARE. Then inform the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

For further assist to forestall, detect, and report potential Medicare fraud, errors, and abuse, contact your native Senior Medicare Patrol.