Throughout the year and especially during the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (Oct 15-Dec 7), plans are actively marketing their products through television ads, social media ads, radio ads, and mailings. To pique your interest, the ads may intentionally or unintentionally mislead you into thinking one plan is better for you than another. Unlike Original Medicare, Part C and Part D plans are administered, marketed, and sold by private insurance companies.
It’s important to understand what brokers and agents from private insurance carriers aren’t allowed to do. That way, you’ll be prepared if someone tries to enroll you in a Medicare plan in a way that goes against Medicare rules.
People representing Medicare plans aren’t allowed to:
- Come to your home uninvited to sell or endorse anything.
- Call you unless you’re already a member of the plan or you’ve given them permission to contact you.
- Require you to speak to a sales agent to get information about the plan.
- Offer you cash or gifts (more than $15) to join their plan.
- Ask for your personal information (like bank account or credit card numbers) over the phone. Plans don’t need your personal information to give a quote.
- Ask you for payment over the phone or online. The plan must send you a bill.
- Market their plans or enroll you during an educational event like a health fair or conference.
- Advertise to you without using specific plan names.
- Advertise to you using confusing words or images, or misleading Medicare logos.
Senior Services can lend a hand in wading through the abundance of health benefit choices – at no cost to you! Take the guesswork out of what health benefits are best for you, whether it’s Medicare enrollment, Medicare Advantage Plans, Medicare Part D prescription plans or Social Security Extra Help.
Senior Services has Health Benefits Assistance volunteers here to assist you. Please call us at 989-633-3748 to be connected with a volunteer or fill out the worksheet at www.SeniorServicesMidland.org/medicare-worksheet-request-form/ and we will contact you with more information.
