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TCO Staff/ChatGPT
Medicare open enrollment runs from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, and scammers are using this period to trick people out of money and personal information.
BBB Scam Tracker frequently receives reports from consumers about scam calls and text messages from individuals posing as Medicare representatives. Consumers report receiving calls from individuals claiming to be “healthcare benefits advocates” working with healthcare or insurance providers.
Scammers often make enticing claims about better, cheaper programs or use threats of discontinued services. Once consumers provide personal information, they become vulnerable to identity theft and fraud.
A Westlake woman shared her experience with a healthcare scam. She received a call from a man who claimed to be with Medicare and provided her Social Security number and home address as proof of legitimacy. While the scammer had the correct Social Security number, the address was incorrect. The woman said, “(The scammer) told me I needed additional Medicare coverage. I knew immediately it was a scam and hung up.” She called the number back and heard a recording saying, “Welcome to Health Guard. Please hang on for our next representative,” but no one answered. The woman then reported the scam to BBB.
BBB Serving Greater Cleveland offers the following tips to help consumers avoid open enrollment scams:
- Be cautious of unsolicited contacts. Medicare and healthcare plan representatives won’t contact you by phone, email, or in person unless you are already enrolled. Be especially wary of threatening calls that demand immediate action or payment.
- Protect your personal information. Never provide your Medicare ID number, Social Security number, health plan details, credit card numbers, or banking information to anyone you don’t know.
- Use official websites. You can enroll or re-enroll in Medicare at Medicare.gov or in a marketplace health plan at Healthcare.gov. For private insurance, use the website listed on the back of your insurance card.
- Avoid promotional gifts in exchange for personal information. Be suspicious if someone offers gifts, health screenings, or medical equipment in exchange for personal information, such as your Medicare ID or Social Security number.
If you are unsure whether a call or offer is legitimate or if you have shared your personal information with someone claiming to be from Medicare, call 1-800-MEDICARE to report it. If you suspect fraud while signing up for ACA coverage, visit Healthcare.gov or call the Health Insurance Marketplace at 1 800-318-2596.
For more tips on avoiding healthcare scams, visit BBB.org. If you’ve been a victim of a scam, report it to BBB.org/ScamTracker. Your report can help others avoid falling victim to similar scams.
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