Medicare scams are becoming more common—and more convincing—especially during Open Enrollment and tax season. Scammers know that Medicare beneficiaries are often targeted with phone calls, emails, texts, and even door-to-door visits designed to steal personal information or money.
One of the biggest red flags is unsolicited contact. Medicare will never call you to ask for your Medicare number, Social Security number, or bank information. If someone claims they need this information to “activate” benefits, issue a new card, or prevent coverage from being canceled, it’s almost certainly a scam.
Another common tactic is pressure and urgency. Scammers often say you must act immediately to avoid losing benefits or missing out on a “new” plan. In reality, legitimate Medicare changes don’t require instant decisions over the phone.
Be cautious of free offers as well. Promises of free braces, genetic testing, or extra benefits often come with hidden motives. These scams can lead to identity theft or fraudulent billing in your name.
A health insurance waiting period is a set time after you enroll before some or all benefits kick in, designed to protect insurers from immediate high claims and keep premiums affordable, with common types including an initial 30-90 day general waiting period, longer waits (1-4 years) for pre-existing conditions (like diabetes, hypertension), and specific waits for major procedures (maternity, dental, joint replacements). It's crucial to check your policy for exact durations, as waiting periods vary by insurer, plan, and condition, but accidents are usually covered from day one.
The Medicare
Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) (also known as the Open Enrollment
Period) is from October 15 to December 7 each year. During this time,
anyone with Medicare can join, drop, or switch their Medicare Advantage
Plan (Part C) or Prescription Drug Plan (Part D). Any changes
you make will become effective on January 1 of the following year.
COBRA health insurance is a federal law that
allows individuals and their families to temporarily continue their
employer-sponsored health insurance coverage after certain qualifying events,
such as job loss or reduction in hours, divorce, or the death of a covered
employee. It essentially provides a temporary extension of your existing
group health plan benefits, allowing you to maintain coverage until you can
find another suitable plan.
Medicare Hospital Indemnity coverage is a supplemental insurance that provides a cash benefit to help cover expenses related to a hospital stay, such as copays, deductibles, and other out-of-pocket costs. It's not a replacement for Medicare, but rather a way to supplement existing coverage like Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage plans. The benefit is typically paid as a daily cash amount for each day spent in the hospital, and can be used for any expenses related to the hospital stay or even other living expenses.
Website: www.medicare.gov
Toll-free number: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227)
TTY number: 1-877-486-2048
Many people are confused about the steps to take towards getting Medicare when they become Medicare eligible. You are either eligible due to a disability or due to age.
Most people will age into Medicare and will automatically be enrolled in both parts of Medicare. Medicare hospital benefit called Part A and the outpatient doctor benefit called Part B. You will have an effective date the first of the month of your birthday month, however, if your birthday is on the 1st of the month then you will become effective the 1st of the prior month.
If you are near Medicare eligibility due to age and have not received any information then maybe it’s time to contact Social Security Administration but before you do first consider these things.
Things to consider before enrolling in Medicare part B outpatient coverage.
If you are eligible for both Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B and you refuse to enroll in Part B simply because you don’t see the need and you have no other qualifying health plan such as a group insurance plan through an employer or employer of a spouse, then you could be charged 10% more (for life) on your Part B premium than someone who first signed up when eligible. The penalty is 10% for every year you delayed.
1. You may enroll in Medicare directly by going online here:
You can also apply:
If you do not live in the U.S. or one of its territories you can also contact the nearest U.S. Social Security office, U.S. Embassy or consulate
