(KIWA Staff Photo)Iowa (Sioux County Radio) — Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird is urging Iowans to be on the lookout for scams during Medicare’s open enrollment period, which runs from Oct. 15th through Dec. 7th.
Bird says families should talk with loved ones who are on Medicare about suspicious phone calls, text messages, and emails. One common scam involves callers claiming they need personal information in order to send a new Medicare card, and she says Iowans should avoid engaging with anyone making that unsolicited request.
Offers Can Put Coverage at Risk
Bird says scammers often use open enrollment as an opportunity to promise free products, medical tests, or other benefits in an effort to collect personal information or persuade people to change plans.
Bird says some victims don’t discover a problem until they need to use their coverage.
Her office warns Iowans to be suspicious of callers who claim enrollment deadlines are approaching before Dec. 7th, ask for Medicare numbers to send replacement cards, or demand payment to resolve alleged fraud issues.
Officials also caution consumers against assuming a different Medicare plan will provide identical coverage, as provider networks, prescription drug benefits, and out-of-pocket costs can vary significantly.
Act Quickly After Sharing Information
Bird encourages people with questions to seek help from a trusted source before making changes to their Medicaire coverage.
If someone believes they may have shared information with a scammer, Bird says immediate action is critical.
Iowans can report suspected scams to the Attorney General’s Office by calling 515-281-5926, emailing consumer@ag.iowa.gov, or visiting iowaattorneygeneral.gov.
Suspicious calls or suspected Medicare fraud can also be reported to 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
