Medicare Open Enrollment occurs each year from October 15 through December 7. Insurance companies are allowed to advertise on TV and via mail, after the approval of their ads by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. They are NOT allowed to contact you via phone or come to your door, unless you have invited them to do so. The only exception to that is your current Medicare insurance provider.
Medicare scams and high-pressure sales tactics are common during this time. Avoid Medicare scams using these tips:
Protect your Medicare ID number. You can compare plans without providing it. The only time you must use your ID number is when enrolling in a plan.
Never give your Medicare ID number or personal information to unsolicited callers. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will never call or send someone to your home.
Don’t rely on caller ID. Scammers can disguise their number to look like they are calling from a recognized business or government agency. To verify the legitimacy of the caller, hang up and call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227).
Ignore anyone claiming you must join a prescription drug plan, also known as Part D, or risk losing coverage. The Part D prescription drug plan is completely voluntary.
Beware of mailings that appear to be from the government but are actually from private companies. Look for disclaimers in small print. Some mailed ads can look as if they’re official Medicare correspondence requiring that you act, or else! Get out a magnifying glass, if needed. If it is an advertisement, it will say so, but it is usually in very small print.
These ads can be alluring, with generous over-the-counter debit cards to pay for non-prescription drugs, food, or utility bills. Use caution. Find out if they’re valid at stores that you use, and always ask for the max out-of-pocket cost for the policy to make sure that it’s not far higher than your current plan. You’d need to decide if saving a few hundred dollars at the store is worth the risk of sometimes thousands of dollars more in copays.
The State Health Insurance Program (SHIP), formerly known as MMAP, has offices in every Michigan county. SHIP is a free, unbiased Medicare counseling service provided to you via local, state, and federal grants. Call 800-803-7174 today to schedule your appointment.