Protect The Elders During This Medicare Open Enrollment Period

Open enrollment period started on October 15, 2011, which provides seniors and disabled to enroll and make the necessary changes to their Medicare Advantage plans available from the private insurers. However, with every open enrollment period comes the batch of leeches who want to take advantage of the senior community. Fraudulent operators pray on a vulnerabel population that is generally more trusting and open to friendly faces at the door and friendly phone calls. It is imperative that we protect our seniors from Medicare scams.

Here are some tips to help you minimize potential scams during this open enrollment period:

1. Be wary of unsolicited calls or visits at home.
2. Do not take calls from someone claiming to be from Social Security or Medicare. They Do Not Call Beneficiaries.
3. Avoid high pressure sales and requests to switch or cancel your existing plan.
4. Read carefully AND understand the health plan information being offered. if you do not understand it, have someone you trust review it for you and explain it to you.
5. Consult family and friends before you make a purchase of any health plan.
6. Consult free tools being provided by your state and Medicare (i.e. Medicare Plan Finder - http://www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan ) or call the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program 1-800-434-0222.
7. Avoid falling for the "too good to be true" plans.
8. Insurance agents must be licensed with the state you reside. Also, Verify that the person you are dealing with has a proper authority to act on behalf of the plan being presented to you.
9. Remember that Medicare has no official sales representatives so they do not send people to solicit your business. 
10. Federal regulations prohibit unsolicited sales call, and marketing in educational or care settings.
11. Federal regulations also prohibit offers of free meals for listening to a sales presentation or for signing up in a particular plan. Also, be ware of other tactics to coarse you to sign up. If the person seems desperate and hard selling you, you may want to consider walking away or getting the information for further review later.

11. Guard your personal information. Never give out your Social Security number, bank account numbers, or credit card information over the telephone.

Governmental agencies are have limited resources to actively prevent and prosecute all of the claims brought to their attention. Therefore, it fall in us to protect our elders from falling victims of fraudulent and deceptive practices, which in most cases results on consumers to lose their medical coverage and much-needed health care services or prescriptions.

Please understand that not all insurance agents are bad. The majority of the insurance agents are very good, caring and professional. It is important to establish a professional relationship with them and understand their business practices.