Always a problem in the past, we are receiving an increasing number of client inquiries about phone calls, emails and texts they are receiving that promise to greatly improve their Medicare benefits. These communications usually make one of two promises:
- “Change your Medicare plan to increase your Social Security check each month.” There are legitimate plans out there that accomplish that by decreasing your Medicare Part B premium that is automatically deducted from your Social Security thus increasing your check. What they don’t tell you is that these plans significantly reduce your medical, prescription, dental and other benefits.
- “Obtain additional benefits like free groceries and help paying your utility bills.” Again, there are legitimate plans that provide those benefits, but to qualify for them, you must qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid (due to low income.) Once you respond to a communication and they determine that you do not qualify for Medicaid, you will be placed on a scammer’s contact list and be bombarded with other fraudulent offers.
What is most alarming is that Medicare participants are not eligible to make a plan change now even if it makes sense to do so. As many of you know, you can only change plans during the Annual Enrollment Period of October 15 to December 7 and the Open Enrollment Period of January 1 to March 31. The only exception is if you have a “Special Enrollment” circumstance like losing employer coverage or moving into a new service area. The scammers are fraudulently stating that there is a Special Enrollment event when they submit the application. We are finding that some insurance companies are carelessly issuing the new policy thus automatically cancelling your existing policy. At some point in time, either Medicare itself or the new insurance carrier will realize that the policy should have never been issued and rescind coverage retroactively to the effective date. You, in turn, will find yourself without coverage (other than basic Medicare) and have to reimburse providers for any claims paid.
So, be careful out there! Please contact us if you have concerns!