Medicare Open Enrollment is Scammers' Open Season

Medicare scams spike each year during the open enrollment period from October through December. Scammers may pressure you to agree to a new plan or offer a new Medicare card, free medical equipment, or genetic testing. Scammers spoof the phone number to make it look like the call is coming from Medicare. They may know personal details like your date of birth or address, but don't let that fool you into thinking the caller is legitimate! Scammers can easily purchase or find that information. Remember, Medicare will not call you unexpectedly. These scammers are trying to get your personal information to access your bank funds, steal your identity or file fraudulent claims using your Medicare account. Fraud, along with errors and abuse, causes Medicare to lose an estimated $60 billion annually.
 
A frequent Medicare scam involves criminals enticing victims with the promise of a new Medicare card or an upgrade to their current one. Scammers claim that there are new plastic cards with a chip, but to get the new card, they need to verify your Medicare ID number and other personal information. They may also ask for your credit card or bank account information to pay an upgrade fee. However, there are no new Medicare cards! If you want a new card, you can print one from the Medicare website. Scammers might also tell you that your Medicare number has been compromised. If you want to double check this information, hang up and call Alaska’s Medicare Information Office at 1-800-478-6065.

Another common scam involves offers of free medical supplies, equipment (like a knee or back brace), medical care, or prescription medications. Scammers use these offers to trick you into giving them your Medicare ID number, which they then use to file fraudulent high-cost Medicare claims in your name. Other scams include offers for free genetic testing or screenings. Scammers will create a sense of urgency, claiming that the offer is time-limited, and you must act fast. Remember, if your medical provider has not prescribed the equipment, supplies, or tests, it is a scam designed to steal your Medicare number.

Here are a few tips to protect yourself from Medicare scams.

- Official Medicare communications will come by mail. Medicare representatives will not come to your home, text you or unexpectedly call you. Protect your personal information. Never share your Medicare or Social Security number with anyone who contacts you, even if it seems like they work for the government. If you initiate a call to the official Medicare phone number or have scheduled a phone appointment with Medicare, they may ask you to verify your personal information.

- Medicare will not offer you a refund or threaten to cancel your coverage over the phone. They will send you notices in the mail. If a caller is threatening these things, it is a scam. Keep your Medicare card at home and only take it with you to medical appointments with new providers who do not have it on file.

- Be sure to review your Medicare claim notices, looking for services you did not receive. There have been recent cases in Alaska of scammers making false claims for Medicare, especially for catheters.

If you have questions about Medicare or think you have been scammed, contact the Alaska Medicare Information Office by calling1-800-478-6065 (or 907-269-3680 if you are not in Alaska) or by email doh.mio.info@alaska.gov. The staff and volunteers at the Medicare Information Office can also help you select the best plan for you during open enrollment.

If you or someone you know has been targeted by a scam, you are not alone. Fraud specialists at the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline (877-908-3360 available from 4 am to 4 pm Alaska time) can provide free support and guidance on what to do next. To learn more about fraud, scams, and prevention, visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network at www.aarp.org/fraud.

Remember: if you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam!