The number of Medicare scams tends to increase during the annual enrollment period, which runs from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, but that doesn’t mean the scammers will go on holiday after that. Anyone can become a scam victim at any time.
According to David Luna, licensed insurance agent and co-founder of Medicare advisory service Connie Health, Florida has been consistently identified as one of the most common places in the nation where fraudulent activity occurs.
“The state of Florida is particularly at risk for Medicare and Medicaid health care fraud,” he said.
And because scammers are always coming up with new ways to take advantage of their victims, it’s important to keep ahead of them.
“The best way to combat scams is to be alert and ensure that your address is updated, so that you receive all official notices,” Luna said. “Reach out to a licensed insurance agent or provider like Connie Health to complete changes to your plan, and never give away sensitive information, such as your Medicare number, over the phone.”
Connie Health is a national company with agents in Florida. It helps seniors with Medicare issues, including selecting a plan, resolving billing challenges and more. After the plan is selected, the company follows up with reminders about key dates, help in finding specialists and advice on maximizing benefits.
The company provided the following 10 ways people can protect themselves from Medicare scams:
Of course, there’s a lot more to know about Medicare than how to avoid scams. Simply navigating the Medicare landscape requires a certain vigilance to ensure one is getting the full benefit.
For instance, the Medicare Part D prescription drug plan changes every year, and that could affect costs. And income qualifications for Extra Help will change next year. In addition, people sometimes overlook an important benefit, such as Chronic Conditions Special Needs Plans for those with diabetes or other chronic condition.
A licensed agent can help determine whether a client is eligible for various benefits.
Connie Health offers a checklist of priorities for seniors to use when selecting a plan and recommends choosing an agent with local expertise, rather than relying on a call center agent in another state. Because it receives commissions, it provides services at no cost to the individual.
For further information, go to conniehealth.com.