Scam Alert: Watch Out During Medicare Sign-Up Season

If you are in or near Medicare-eligible age, you may have already seen a flood of texts and emails about health coverage.

Medicare enrollment is underway, making this a busy time for scammers. The problem is expected to grow even more when the open-market enrollment period begins for people shopping for plans, and that window runs into early next year.

Many of the messages consumers are receiving claim to come from insurance brokers offering help finding a plan. In New Mexico, the pool of potential targets is much larger than before.

That is because tens of thousands of residents are losing Medicare Advantage coverage and may be especially vulnerable as they rush to sort out their choices.

For the upcoming coverage year, Presbyterian Healthcare Services is no longer offering any Advantage plans, while Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico and Christus Health have ended most of theirs.

“The market feels very disrupted right now,” said Emily Kaltenbach, secretary of the state Aging and Long-Term Services Department. “Absolutely, there’s concern for additional fraud and scams related to Medicare.”

Texts, emails and phone calls may promise to connect you with an agent or claim to be from Medicare, urging you to act fast if your plan is being discontinued. The risk is ending up with an inadequate plan that does not match what was promised, or becoming a victim of identity theft.

Medicare rules bar representatives from health care companies and independent brokers from contacting you unless you already belong to the plan being marketed or you have agreed to be contacted by phone or text.

They also are not allowed to request personal financial details simply to provide a quote. Experts say to treat your Medicare card and number like a credit card: never hand it over if someone is soliciting you for coverage. Scammers can convincingly impersonate Medicare staff, health care providers or insurance agents.

Be careful when researching plans online as well. Scam websites may use addresses that closely resemble legitimate government sites, and they may copy key words or official-looking logos to seem like Healthcare.gov or Medicare.gov.

The FTC warns that search results can be misleading because scammers and dishonest companies sometimes pay to appear near the top. Anything labeled “sponsored” is a paid advertisement.

Artificial intelligence has made the deception even more convincing.

“We’re increasingly concerned about financial exploitation and fraud in general,” Kaltenbach said. “It’s getting much more sophisticated. AI has not helped in that arena.”

Her department says it offers free help for people who want information about Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans, or who need help spotting a fraudulent sales pitch. The service is called Senior Medical Patrol and can be reached at 800-432-2080 or at www.aging.nm.gov/consumer-and-elder-rights/medicare/senior-medicare-patrol/.

People can also schedule an appointment with a State Health Insurance Assistance Program counselor for free, independent guidance on coverage options and costs at www.aging.nm.gov/consumer-and-elder-rights/options-counseling/.

“We’re here to help,” said Joey Long, a department spokesperson. “You’re not alone.”