Medicare Open Enrollment

Medicare open enrollment is now underway. Enrollees or their family members may want help navigating the open enrollment process and choosing the right plan for their circumstances. Scammers and dishonest actors often try to take advantage of older consumers during this period by impersonating Medicare, asking for their Medicare account information, and selling unnecessary or fraudulent health products or services.

Consumers should never provide their personal information in response to an unsolicited request, even if the requestor claims to represent Medicare, a healthcare provider, or another government agency. Current Medicare enrollees should never provide their Medicare card number to anyone unless they have initiated contact with Medicare or their medical providers. Instead of clicking links in emails, texts, or online ads and pop-ups, consumers should always visit Medicare’s website by typing in the address directly or by calling the phone number on the back of their Medicare card.

Avoid these issues by utilizing these trusted resources:

· Medicare: Operates help lines and maintains many online resources to help Medicare enrollees and their assistants learn about the program options available to enrollees and other available resources. Contacting the official Medicare agency is the best option for consumers with questions about Medicare coverage, plans, or issues.

o Web: medicare.gov

o Phone: 1-800-633-4227

· Wisconsin Board on Aging and Long Term Care (BOALTC): Manages Wisconsin’s Medigap Helpline and Medigap Part D & Prescription Drug Hotline, which provide free telephone counseling services and assistance to individuals with questions about Medicare-related insurance coverage and prescription drug coverage.

o Web: LongTermCare.wi.gov

o Medigap Helpline: 1-800-242-1060

o Medigap Part D and Prescription Drug Hotline: 1-855-677-2783

· Office of the Commissioner of Insurance of Wisconsin (OCI): Provides free online publications to educate the public on health insurance issues, including the ‘Guide to Health Insurance for People with Medicare in Wisconsin’ and other materials about Medicare Advantage, Medigap, and more.

o Web: oci.wi.gov/Publications

· AARP: Provides many informative articles, tips, and other Medicare-related resources online.

o Web: aarp.org/medicare