Scams and misleading Medicare policies are increasing
Federal officials say complaints from seniors who were tricked into buying misleading Medicare policies are increasing.
They might have been enrolled without their consent or lured by questionable or fake information into plans that might not cover their drugs or include their doctors.
To combat this, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has threatened to penalize private insurance companies selling Medicare Advantage and drug plans if they or their agents mislead consumers.
And starting in 2023, insurers won’t be able to air any television ads for Medicare Advantage plans before getting approval from federal regulators.
CMS has also revised rules that make it easier for Medicare beneficiaries to escape plans they didn’t sign up for or enrolled in only to discover that promised benefits didn’t exist or they couldn’t see their healthcare providers.
We explain how to report a Medicare fraud or scam. And to help you avoid these scams, we also share 3 ways to get trustworthy information about Medicare.
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How to report Medicare fraud and scams
If you or your older adult have been approached by a salesperson who acted inappropriately or aggressively or been enrolled in an insurance plan without consent, call 1-800-MEDICARE and file a complaint.
You can also find your state department of insurance in the Insurance Information Institute directory and file a complaint.
To report a scammer who pretended to be from Medicare, call 1-800-MEDICARE and visit ReportFraud.ftc.gov
If you think someone may have stolen or misused your personal or financial information, report it at IdentityTheft.gov and get started on a recovery plan.
3 ways to get legitimate, trustworthy Medicare information and help
1. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Going through CMS directly is the safest way to explore your options and make changes to your coverage.
Visit the CMS Medicare website at https://www.medicare.gov/ or start a Live Chat at https://www.medicare.gov/talk-to-someone
Or, call CMS Medicare at 1-800-633-4227
2. Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) To get help comparing plans and finding the best one for your healthcare needs, contact your county’s Area Agency on Aging (AAA).
Find your local AAA using the Eldercare Locator.
3. State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) You can also get free help from trained counselors from the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP).
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By DailyCaring Editorial Team
This article wasn’t sponsored and doesn’t contain affiliate links. For more information, see How We Make Money.
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