Oct. 13--As Medicare's open enrollment season starts this week, the California attorney general's office is warning seniors to be alert for scammers and dishonest insurance brokers attempting to steal personal information or pocket commissions on high-priced Medicare plans.
Medicare scams can take many forms, from callers trying to dupe seniors into giving up their Social Security numbers to "free lunch" and other enticements offered by unscrupulous insurance agents, who try to rack up commissions.
"Seniors should vigilantly ensure that they are not taken advantage of by Medicare scam artists who may misguide them, or attempt to obtain and misuse their personal information," the attorney general's office said in a statement Tuesday.
Starting Thursday through Dec. 7, Medicare's annual open enrollment season will let seniors decide whether to change their Part C (Medicare Advantage) and Part D (prescription drug) plans. Not everyone needs to switch their current plan, but health and consumer groups urge seniors to review their plans to make sure their needs are covered, especially with prescription drugs.
Because so many insurers change their drug formularies each year, some prescriptions may have jumped in price or no longer are carried by some Medicare providers. This week, a new analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation said average prescription drug premiums will increase 13 percent for Medicare seniors next year. Out-of-pocket costs will likely increase as well, the analysis found.
With the seven-week open enrollment season underway, the potential for scams grows.
"We always see scams increase this time of year," said Margaret Reilly, program manager for the nine-county Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy Program (HICAP), which provides free Medicare counseling in Northern California. "The scam artists know that seniors are bombarded with information this time of year, so they may not give callers as much scrutiny as they might otherwise. You have to be on guard."
Aggressive insurance agents trying to sell Medicare plans will come by senior apartment buildings and knock on doors or drop off business cards, while others send unsolicited emails, said Micki Nozaki, project director of the California Senior Medicare Patrol, a federal program of volunteers who work on fraud detection. Such tactics are not allowed under federal guidelines.
In other cases, agents dangle enticements to lure seniors into signing up for inappropriate Medicare plans, a scheme that ensnared a group bussed to a tribal casino near Riverside and given $20 each in gambling money. In exchange, the insurance agent who arranged the trip allegedly collected the seniors' Medicare card numbers and enrolled them in new Medicare plans that were deemed inappropriate, according to the Senior Medicare Patrol.
"It's so easy to confuse people, especially with phone and email scams," Nozaki said. Because of all the confusing terms and acronyms in health care, it's "easy for someone to pull the wool over your eyes about something that sounds legitimate."
Among the attorney general office's tips for seniors:
--Never provide Social Security numbers or account information to callers who claim to be Medicare employees. Such employees will not request that information by phone.
--Do not give out personal information to callers who claim to represent a doctor, hospital or health agency. If uncertain about a caller's identity, hang up and directly contact the organization in question.
--Never allow into your home individuals posing as door-to-door sales representatives for Medicare. Medicare does not make house calls.
--Be wary of offers to provide free medical exams or supplies. Dishonest companies may use these offers to fraudulently obtain your personal information.
--Be leery of marketing promotions where a free lunch is offered in exchange for attending a presentation or signing up for a Medicare plan. Federal law does not permit providing a free meal when marketing a Medicare health or drug plan; anyone offering this arrangement should not be trusted.
--If a caller demands that billing information be provided by phone or online, refuse to provide it and request a bill by mail. Medicare plan representatives are not allowed to ask you for payment online or over the phone.
--A salesperson should not use aggressive sales tactics to force a senior into purchasing an unsuitable Medicare plan. If you encounter high-pressure sales tactics, do not make a decision until you can discuss it with a trusted friend or relative who can help determine what best suits your needs.
To report Medicare fraud, call 800-447-8477 or go to: StopMedicareFraud.gov. To get free counseling help in California with your Medicare plan, call the Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy Program (HICAP) at 800-434-0222.
Claudia Buck: 916-321-1968, @Claudia_Buck
___
(c)2015 The Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, Calif.)
Visit The Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, Calif.) at www.sacbee.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
0 Response to " Medicare Scams Heat Up "
Post a Comment