Watch for Medicare marketing scams during open enrollment period

Fall colors, fading daylight and cooler nights signal more than just sweater season in Wisconsin. These changes also mark the beginning of the Medicare Open Enrollment Period, which starts October 15 and runs through December 7. According to Ingrid Kundinger, Wisconsin Senior Medicare Patrol Program Director, “The time is now to review your plans.

'This is a crucial time for people with Medicare to review their current plans, note any changes, and determine if it is still the best option for them,” Kundinger said. “Since insurance companies can change plan premiums, deductibles, and co-pays each year, switching to a different plan could result in extra money in your pocket.”

Kundinger noted that while you are making decisions about your Medicare coverage for next year, be cautious of offers that seem too good to be true from phone calls you might receive or commercials that you see on television.

“If you are looking for unbiased assistance with plan comparisons, please call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). You can also visit the Medicare website and utilize the Medicare Plan Finder to see what plans are available in your area,” Kundinger said.

“If you think you may have been wrongfully enrolled in a plan or if you notice other potentially suspicious activity, the Wisconsin Senior Medicare Patrol is here to help,” she said, adding, “We have excellent information on our website (www. smpwi.org) and on our Facebook or LinkedIn pages. To report suspected Medicare Fraud or for general information, call our confidential, toll-free helpline at (888) 818-2611.”

The Senior Medicare Patrol mission is to empower and assist Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers on how to prevent, detect, and report health care fraud, abuse, and errors through outreach, counseling, and education. The Wisconsin Senior Medicare Patrol program covers 72 counties and 11 federally recognized tribes with educational messages and outreach. The program engages and supports an active team, statewide, to help with mission delivery.

The Wisconsin Senior Medicare Patrol program is housed at the Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources (GWAAR).