What is the Medicare Coverage Helpline scam?
Let’s get back to the Medicare Coverage Helpline Scam. In a different variation of it, victims receive calls from a fake representative of “AD Medical Advisors” who tries to sell them a prescription drug discount plan or advises them of a problem with their Medicare program. The crook then asks for the bank account number and withdraws $300.
Is the “Medicare Advantage scam?
Kay Tillow writes for Daily Kos about the “Medicare Advantage scam” and beyond. She explains that these for-profit health plans that deliver Medicare benefits are using stars like Joe Namath to mislead people into signing up for coverage that very well might not meet their needs if they get sick or need a lot of costly care.
Why am I getting so many Medicare scam calls?
Medicare Scam Calls Scam calls tend to pick up in large numbers anytime something is happening with the Federal insurance program. Open enrollment periods, new law changes, etc. are all occasions that result in an influx of scams amongst beneficiaries.
Is the Medicare Coverage Helpline a government hotline?
But what may not be as apparent is that the Medicare Coverage Helpline is not a government hotline at all and Buchwald is a paid spokesman (did you catch those disclosures? Probably not, as they flash by quickly in fine print within a couple of seconds).
Is Medicare extra benefits helpline legitimate?
But here's some of what it says: The Medicare Coverage Helpline is not affiliated with or acting on behalf of any government agency or program. The Medicare Coverage Hotline is a private for-profit lead generation campaign and does not offer insurance and is not an insurance agency or broker.
Is the Medicare coverage helpline for real?
You can call the Medicare helpline at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) for questions about Medicare coverage. Or you can call our licensed insurance agents to learn about Medicare Advantage plan options in your area. 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) is the official phone number for Medicare.
What is Medicare helpline?
(800) 633-4227Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services / Customer service
Will Medicare call you on the phone?
Remember that Medicare will never call you to sell you anything or visit you at your home. Medicare, or someone representing Medicare, will only call and ask for personal information in these 2 situations: A Medicare health or drug plan may call you if you're already a member of the plan.
What is the best Medicare helpline?
1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) can help. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.
Is Medicare coverage helpline commercial?
No, the Joe Namath Medicare commercials are not a scam. They advertise legitimate Advantage plans but include few details about the benefits. A large company pays Namath to appear in their advertisements and tell viewers to call a number where they can buy plans.
Why am I getting so many phone calls about Medicare?
Medicare will never call or come to your home uninvited to sell products or services. SSA representatives may call Medicare beneficiaries if they need more information to process applications for Social Security benefits or enrollment in certain Medicare Plans, but, again, this is rare.
Why am I getting so many calls about Medicare?
Phone calls Sometimes, they're selling phony products such as supplemental or prescription drug Medicare plans. The whole purpose of all of these calls is to obtain your personal information, whether that is your Medicare card number, your Social Security number, or banking information.
Why do doctors not like Medicare Advantage plans?
If they don't say under budget, they end up losing money. Meaning, you may not receive the full extent of care. Thus, many doctors will likely tell you they do not like Medicare Advantage plans because private insurance companies make it difficult for them to get paid for their services.
What are some schemes that Medicare is using?
The range of schemes could be: Medicare scam calls, Medicare genetic testing, bogus medical alert systems, Medicare Advantage scam, fake medical alert devices, Medicare Coverage Helpline scam, and many other types of Medicare abuse.
Is free blood pressure a scam?
Beware of the Free Blood Pressure Scam, going around these days. It is also known as the Free Skin Cancer Screening Scam.
Is Bidencare a scam?
The Bidencare Health Email Scam takes advantage of people interested in getting the health insurance through the Bidencare enrollment.
How to contact Medicare for scam calls?
After receiving a Medicare scam phone call that asks for your Medicare number or other personal information, reach out to 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) — TTY: 1-877-486-2048.
How do Medicare phone scams work?
Across the country, seniors may receive calls from scam operators who claim to represent Medicare or a different insurance provider. They usually claim that the senior’s Medicare card has expired, prompting the release of personal information like name, address, Medicare number, or Social Security number.
What can a scammer do with my Medicare number?
To help prevent against identity theft, Medicare has issued new cards to recipients that have your Medicare number instead of your Social Security number on the back.
What do you get as a subscriber?
As a subscriber, you'll receive videos, free downloadable resources, and educational content straight to your email inbox.
What to do when a caller is a thief?
When in doubt, ask the caller for their direct number to call them back, which will likely result in the thief hanging up without giving you the information, as it would expose their call as fraudulent.
What to do if you call 1-800-MEDICARE?
If you called 1-800-MEDICARE and left a message, a representative can call you back.
Can Medicare show up at my home?
Medicare will never show up at your home unannounced or give you a call that you were not expecting. If Medicare offices need to contact you, you will likely receive an official letter at your primary address prompting you to set up an appointment to talk with a representative.
Who wrote the 2020 Medicare Advantage?
September 29, 2020. by Diane Archer. Andrew Martin. Written by Diane Archer. Kay Tillow writes for Daily Kos about the “Medicare Advantage scam” and beyond. She explains that these for-profit health plans that deliver Medicare benefits are using stars like Joe Namath to mislead people into signing up for coverage that very well might not meet their ...
Is Medicare star rating a farce?
Medicare ’s star-rating system is a farce and you should not rely on it. Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle have been taken in by these for-profit companies. Maybe it’s because these lawmakers are heavily lobbied. Maybe it’s because of the campaign contributions they receive.
Can you save money with Medicare Advantage?
No question that you take a big gamble when you sign up with a Medicare Advantage plan. If you’re lucky and are healthy, you can save money because you won’t need to buy supplemental coverage, as most people need to do in traditional Medicare. But, if you get sick, you might find that you can’t see the doctors you want to see, your plan refuses to pre-authorize procedures your doctors say you need and, if you get care, the copays and deductibles add up to thousands of dollars.
Can elected representatives close down Medicare?
Our elected representatives can continue to put their heads in the sand and ignore the predatory and unscrupulous behavior of corporate health insurers and their marketing agents. They can dismiss the reality that millions of Americans are being ripped off and tens of millions more are going without needed care. Or, they can close down the Medicare Advantage plans and guarantee us the health care we need through improved Medicare for all.
Is Medicare Advantage a government agency?
Instead, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) is allowing Medicare Advantage plans to send you to “the Medicare Coverage Helpline.” And, while you might think that it is a government, independent agency, it is in fact a corporate marketing agency, designed to seduce you into giving up your public health insurance under traditional Medicare and to sign up for a private insurance Medicare Advantage plan.
Does Medicare Advantage offer nursing home care?
Medicare Advantage plans maximize profits by paying as little as possible for the care they provide you . So, that can often mean they contract with poor quality providers.
Does Medicare Advantage offer benefits?
Medicare Advantage plans generally offer some benefits that traditional Medicare does not offer, which is an attraction. But, you are trading away your ability to see the doctors and use the hospitals you want to use anywhere in the country without worry that your care will be covered.
Up Close
First of all, I feel we should take another look at the commercial and take a closer look.
I Called the 800 Number To See What Extra Medicare Benefits I Could Get – An Actual Person Answered Looked Up My Zip Code – Timestamp: 00:05-00:15 seconds
The fine print in the red circle on this screenshot says – “ The 2021 Medicare Helpline is not affiliated with or acting on behalf of any government agency or program.
Medicare Advantage Plan (MAP) Part C
This type of plan is an additional way to get what Part A and B cover but has additional benefits.
Description of Medicare Advantage Plans
These MA plans Part D drug coverage, normally and in many cases to get this coverage, you will need to use the health care provider in that private companies plan network.
Description of Some Medicare Advantage Plan Coverages
The Medicare Advantage (MA) (Part C) Plans will cover all of your Part A and B benefits except any hospice services or clinical trials and temporarily the new benefits that happen because of national coverages or legislation has determined.
I was offered Extra Benefits Like Dental Coverage at Timestamp 00:16-19 seconds
The fine print in the red circle on this screenshot says – “Plans and benefits vary, and premiums, co-pays, and co-insurance may apply. Plans that have no premiums, no co-pays, no deductibles may require qualifying for low-income subsidies or, SNP plans. Benefits may differ from those offered under your current plan.
Choosing Plans To Benefit You The Most
Many Decisions to make for Expanded Coverage in your Medicare Advantage Plan. Recommend that you consider talking to a broker or consultant to go through every detail with you before you commit to enabling the best coverage for the money and peace of mind for you and your family.
How to report a fraudulent call to Medicare?
How to Report a Medicare Call. You can report a fraudulent call from someone claiming they worked for Medicare by going to the FTC Complaint Assistant. You can help protect yourself from fraudulent activities by never offering credit card or personal information to anyone.
What to do if you think Medicare is calling you?
If you think the call is from Medicare, hang up and call them back at the national number. Then, if it was one of them, they can help you. However, if Medicare isn’t attempting to reach you, then you avoid a spammer trying to steal your information. Telemarketing calls attempt to commit fraud and theft.
How long after you register for Do Not Call list can you get spam calls?
Also, register both your cell phone and home phone to put an end to the calls. If you find you’re still getting spam calls 31 days after you register with the Do Not Call list, file a complaint. If you have a smartphone, you can install a call blocker.
What to do if you get a call from someone who claims to be Medicare?
If you get calls from someone claiming to be Medicare, get a name and phone number, and call Medicare to make a report.
What is the phone number for the Federal Trade Commission?
To register, call from the phone which you want on the Do Not Call list. The phone number is 1-888-382-1222.
Why do scammers use phony caller IDs?
Scam calls will many times use phony caller IDs to hide their real location and make it look like they’re calling from a local number.
Do not call Medicare?
If you’re getting too many spam phone calls, you might want to get on the Federal Trade Commission’s Do Not Call list. Medicare beneficiaries are likely to receive phone calls once they become eligible for Medicare.
What does Omdahl say about Medicare Advantage?
Omdahl said that before signing up for a Medicare Advantage plan, understand that anytime you want care other than an emergency, the plan has to approve it.
When is Medicare open enrollment?
There's also a Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment period, from Jan. 1 through March 31, when you can switch your Advantage plan to a different one or switch back to Original Medicare and sign up for a Part D plan.
How many Medicare Advantage plans are there in 2022?
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, the average Medicare beneficiary has a choice of 54 Medicare plans, there are 766 Medicare Part D prescription drug plans and a record 3,834 Medicare Advantage plans will be available in 2022 (up 8% from 2021).
Does Medicare Advantage cover out-of-pocket costs?
Medicare Advantage plans, usually bundled with prescription drug coverage, typically require you to use health care providers in their network. The policies limit your annual out-of-pocket costs for covered services.
Who are the actors in the Medicare commercials?
Odds are, you've seen those Medicare Advantage TV commercials featuring the likes of William Shatner, George Foreman, Jimmie Walker and Joe Namath touting the "free" health insurance plans offering enticing benefits not available from so-called "Original Medicare" (also called "traditional Medicare"). But are they for real?
Is Medicare Advantage pay as you go?
In addition, noted Omdahl, "start digging into the evidence of coverage and you will see that Medicare Advantage is pay-as-you go: fifty dollars to see a specialist, four hundred dollars a day for five or six days of hospitalization. So you are writing checks, and that's what people don't realize. They think 'zero premium' means it's free, which it's not."
Is Medicare Advantage free on Friends Talk Money?
Here's the bottom line from Omdahl and the "Friends Talk Money" hosts: Some of what you hear on those Medicare Advantage TV ads is true, but the fine print shows that "free" isn't really "free." When the commercials say "zero premium, zero deductible and zero co-pay," that's not the whole story.
