Medicare Scams During Open Enrollment

Medicare’s annual open enrollment begins on October 15, but consumers are already reporting to DATCP that scammers are targeting eligible consumers. They use this period to ramp up their efforts and take advantage of older consumers by impersonating Medicare, asking for their Medicare account information, and selling unnecessary or fraudulent health products or services.

Medicare participants should remember.

· Medicare will never call or visit consumers at home to sell products.

· Medicare enrollees should never provide their Medicare card number to anyone unless they have initiated contact with Medicare or their medical providers.

· Medicare cards do not need to be replaced unless they are lost, stolen, or destroyed.

o Scammers will impersonate Medicare to fraudulently help enrollees update or replace their “outdated” Medicare card.

· Medicare enrollees should always visit Medicare’s website by typing in the address directly and avoid clicking links in emails, texts, or online ads and pop-ups.

Consumers have options: Medicare Part A (hospital insurance), Part B (medical insurance), Part C (Medicare Advantage, which are plans offered by private companies and can differ on things like in-network coverage, out of pocket costs, and referral policies for specialists), and Part D (optional prescription drug insurance plans). Medigap is extra insurance that can be bought from private companies to help pay for out of pocket costs. Enrollees or their family members may want assistance navigating the open enrollment process and choosing the right plan for their circumstances. Avoid scams and find help from these trusted resources:

· Medicare: Operates help lines and publishes resources. 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 resources to 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