Here are some recommendations about avoiding scams.
- Be wary of anyone who contacts you out of the blue. Healthcare.gov and Medicare provide legitimate help for determining which plan is right for you. If someone asks you for payment, it's a scam. Never join a Medicare health or drug plan over the phone unless you called them first.
- Be wary of free gifts and "health screenings." Keep a healthy level of skepticism any time a broker offers you free gifts or other special deals.
- Don't trust a name or number. Con artists use official-sounding names or mask their area codes to make you trust them. Don't fall for it.
- 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.
- Go directly to official websites. If you want to make changes to your healthcare plan, go directly to Medicare.gov, Healthcare.gov, or your employer's health insurance provider. Don't click on links in suspicious messages.
- Medicare will never call you to sell you anything or visit you at your home. Medicare, or someone representing Medicare, will only call and ask for personal information in limited situations.
Anyone who is unsure if they were contacted by Medicare or if they gave personal information to someone claiming to be with Medicare should call 1-800-MEDICARE to report it.
“The scams often begin with a phone call or text message that appears to be from a government agency,” said Robert Roach, Jr., President of the Alliance. “Scammers may also ask for an account number in order to enroll you in what they say is a better plan than what you already have. This is a common way to get your personal information in order to steal your identity and money.”