How to avoid potential Medicare Scams
Part 2
There are a lot of scams to be aware of today, and too many to name here alone, but you can protect yourself with proper knowledge and resources.
Medicare will never call you unless you have first made contact requesting assistance. Scammers may sound professional, say that they are from Medicare, or even have your personal details (i.e. name, address, family members names). If you get a phone call from someone claiming to be from Medicare, hang up immediately, even if the phone number on the CallerID appears to be credible.
Ignore threats to take away your benefits to remove your benefits. Your benefits cannot be removed for not signing up for a plan.
Any person who does not provide you a Scope of Appointment. Any agent who plans on discussing Part D or a Medicare Advantage Plan with you, or assisting you with an enrollment, must first ask you to sign a Scope of Appointment (SOA). This simple form is required by Medicare and outlines what the agent can talk with you about during your meeting, whether in person or by phone.
Anyone who endorses a plan that they claim Medicare prefers. CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) does not endorse any particular plan. There is no best plan, as everyone’s needs, budget and comfort within those things are different. A good agent will work directly with you to understand your specific needs in order to educate you on the plan options that meet those.
Anyone violating marketing rules. At LHF Insurance Agency, we have made it our goal to educate our clients about the new CMS rules and regulations that were newly implemented in October 2022. The new required disclaimer reads as follows:
“We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare .gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all your options.”
In addition to this disclaimer, CMS requires all agents to conduct any phone conversation pertaining to Medicare on a recorded phone line, as well as securely store these phone calls for 10 years. (Click here to get more information and update your contact information for LHF). This is to ensure we have documentation of your interaction with us in the event of a CMS audit.
If you have found yourself in the position of previously being scammed, do give yourself a break. Scammers are professional and prey upon the emotions of unsuspecting seniors. Trust your instincts! If you are suspicious and need reassurance, please don’t hesitate to contact our agency.