MATTHEWS, NC (November 2, 2021) — The coronavirus pandemic left many Americans unemployed — and uninsured. To give people a chance to sign up for health care coverage, the U.S. federal government has opened Medicare.gov from October 15, 2021 – December 7, 2021. Healthcare.gov is open from November 1, 2021 to January 15, 2021. Unfortunately, scammers often see open enrollments as a chance to trick people out of money and personal information.
How the Scam Works:
Anytime the government has an open enrollment, people understandably have questions and concerns. Scammers take advantage of this opportunity to confuse and mislead victims.
BBB.org/ScamTracker gets many reports about scammers claiming to be a government representative who can help you navigate your Medicare or Affordable Care Act options. Scammers claim to be a “health care benefits advocate” or a similar title. These scammers allege they can enroll you in a better program than what you currently have. This new plan is cheaper, and you can keep all the same services. To get started, all you need to do is provide some personal information, such as your Medicare ID number. Of course, the call is a scam, and sharing personal information will open you up to identity theft.
In another common scam, callers try to frighten – rather than assist – victims with their health care plans. In this case, scammers claim that your Medicare will be discontinued if you didn’t re-enroll. Fortunately, this “Medicare advisor” can fix the situation – if you share personal information with them.
Watch out for similar scams this fall. Healthcare.gov does provide legitimate help with figuring out which plan is right for you. These people — sometimes called Navigators or Assisters — are not allowed to charge for their help. If someone asks you for payment, it’s a scam. You will also need to contact them. They will not call you out-of-the-blue.
Tips to Avoid Open Enrollment Scams
Selecting a health insurance plan can be challenging and complex. Be on the lookout for common red flags.
A Better Business Bureau of Southern Piedmont
and Western North Carolina Press Release
www.bbb.org | Start With Trust
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