Health insurance shopping season is here again. For many people, that means comparing plans, weighing costs and trying to make the right choices for themselves and their families. Medicare Open Enrollment runs from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, and Marketplace Open Enrollment runs from Nov. 1 through Jan. 15.
For scammers, this is an opportunity. They know people are searching for coverage and willing to click an advertisement, answer a phone call or share personal information to get help. A convincing website, an official-sounding caller or an offer that seems too good to pass up makes it surprisingly difficult to tell what is legitimate and what is not.
The Federal Trade Commission has warned that health insurance scams appear through online ads, look-alike websites and unsolicited calls. Their goal is to create enough urgency or confusion that you act before you have time to stop and verify.
The stories may differ. The pattern does not.
Someone searches online for Medicare or Marketplace plans and clicks a result that looks official. An advertisement promises low premiums, free extras or “new benefits.” A caller claims to be from a government program and says coverage is at risk unless action is taken immediately.
Then the pressure begins. The caller asks for your Medicare number, Social Security number or payment information — or even remote access to your computer or phone to “finish the enrollment.” That is when it is time to stop.
Pressure Is the Weapon
It is easy to think these scams work only because someone has not been careful enough. But that thinking misses the tactic.
Scammers understand that choosing health coverage matters. They know people are worried about protecting themselves, their parents and their children. So they create urgency, use official-sounding language and present themselves as people who can solve problems quickly.
When someone says, “You need to act now,” taking a moment to question the story can be difficult. That is exactly what the scammer is counting on.
A paid advertisement or professional-looking website can make a fraudulent offer seem legitimate. The most important question is the simplest: Are they who they say they are?
Warning Signs
Be cautious if:
- You are pressured to enroll or provide information immediately.
- Someone contacts you unexpectedly and claims to represent Medicare, the Marketplace or a government agency.
- An advertisement or a website looks official but is a paid search result or uses a slightly different web address.
- You are asked for your Medicare number, Social Security number or payment information before you have verified the source.
- An offer focuses on free gifts, unusually low rates or limited-time perks while providing few details about the coverage.
A familiar logo, an official-sounding title or a convincing caller ID does not prove someone is legitimate.
What Should You Do?
Start with official sources:
- Type Medicare.gov or healthcare.gov into your browser instead of clicking a link in an advertisement, an email or a text.
- Call Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227) or the Marketplace at 800-318-2596.
- Get free, trustworthy assistance from Michigan’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program or Senior Medicare PatrolProgram.
If someone contacts you unexpectedly, hang up the call or close the webpage. Find the official phone number and verify what you have been told. Do not share personal or financial information until you have confirmed who you are dealing with.
Before making a decision, talk with someone you trust. A second set of eyes can spot pressure tactics that are difficult to notice when you are caught up in the moment.
Protecting your health coverage starts with protecting your judgment, which these scams are designed to bypass. The strongest defense is the simplest: Stop, go to the official source and then decide.
Learn more about Oakland County’s Information Security Office here. Visit their Citizen Cyber Training portal for online education and online cybersecurity resources to help understand risks and be better prepared for a more secure online experience.
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