Beware of Medicare, ACA cons during open enrollment
- Kim Thompson: Better Business Bureau
- November 2, 2020
- 1057
Every year during health insurance open-enrollment season, scammers try to dupe unsuspecting consumers into sharing their personal information. This year is no exception. According to new BBB.org/ScamTracker reports, Americans are getting scam calls phishing for their Medicare numbers and other personal information. This year open enrollment runs Oct. 15 through Dec. 7 for Medicare and Nov. 1 through Dec. 15 for the Affordable Care Act.
How the scam works
You receive a call (or a recorded message) from someone who claims to be helping you navigate your Medicare options. They may call themselves a “healthcare benefits advocate” or a similar title. The caller says they can enroll you in a better Medicare program than what you currently have. This new plan is cheaper, and you can keep all the same services. To get started, all you need to do is provide some personal information such as your Medicare ID number. Of course, the call is a scam, and sharing personal information will open you up to identity theft.
In another version reported to BBB’s Scam Tracker, callers are using another tactic. In this case they claim your Medicare will be discontinued if you don’t re-enroll. Fortunately, this “Medicare advisor” can fix the situation, if only you share your personal information.
Also, BBB’s Scam Tracker is getting reports about callers pushing “free” back or knee braces. This is Medicare fraud. Read more about these scams at www.bbb.org/article/scams/13033-scam-alert-beware-of-the-medicare-back-brace-scam.
Be wary of anyone who contacts you unsolicited. People representing Medicare or ACA plans don’t contact you by phone, email or in person unless you are already enrolled. Be especially cautious of threatening calls that require quick action or immediate payment.
Decline promotional gifts in exchange for personal information. Keep a healthy level of skepticism any time a broker offers you free gifts, health screenings or other special deals. Never sign up with a broker who offers you an expensive “sign-up gift” in exchange for providing your Medicare ID number or other personally identifiable information.
Beware of dishonest brokers who offer “free health screenings.”Some brokers offer this to weed out people who are less healthy. This is called “cherry picking” and is against the Medicare rules.
Guard your government-issued numbers. Never offer your Medicare ID number, Social Security number, health plan info or banking information to anyone you don’t know.
Hang up and go to official websites. You can enroll or re-enroll in Medicare at www.Medicare.gov or in a marketplace health plan at www.Healthcare.gov.
When you are unsure if a call or offer is from Medicare or you gave your personal information to someone claiming to be with Medicare, call 1-800-MEDICARE to report it. If you suspect fraud when signing up for ACA coverage, go to www.HealthCare.gov or call the Health Insurance Marketplace call center at 800-318-2596.
For more tips from BBB on avoiding healthcare scams, check www.BBB.org/HealthCareScam. If you’ve been the victim of this or another scam, report it at www.BBB.org/ScamTracker. By sharing your experience, you can help others avoid falling victim to similar scams.
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