Avoiding Phone Scams During Open Enrollment
Medicare and health insurance scams are incredibly common, and scammers have gotten creative with new ways to steal your money and personal information.
Here are three signs of health insurance scams:
Someone says they’re from the government and need payment or personal information - Government agencies do not call you out of the blue looking for information. If someone asks you for your social security number, bank account, or credit card over the phone, they are most likely trying to scam you.
Someone wants your personal information in exchange for a price quote - Keep in mind that HealthCare.gov will only ask you for your monthly income and your age to provide a quote. If someone calls you and offers to “check your eligibility” in exchange for personal information like your social security number or bank account, they could be setting you up for identity theft.
Someone asks you to pay for a quote - You should never be asked to pay for services or help to apply for Medicare, Marketplace, Medicaid, or CHIP coverage. If someone is asking you to pay, it’s a scam.
The bottom line is this: if something feels “off,” it probably is. If someone calls and pressures you to give out personal information or tries to rush you into giving over your credit card information, hang up immediately and block the number. If you receive a call you believe is a scam, you can also report it to the Federal Trade Commission.
If you have questions about any of this information or come across anything that you are unsure about, don’t hesitate to give our team a call.