Why do so many people call me about Medicare?

Why do so many people call me about Medicare?

There are a few reasons why you might be receiving so many calls about Medicare:

• You are eligible for Medicare. Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people age 65 and over, as well as people with certain disabilities. If you are eligible for Medicare, you will start receiving calls from insurance companies and other organizations that offer Medicare plans.
• You have recently enrolled in Medicare. If you have recently enrolled in Medicare, you may receive calls from insurance companies and other organizations that want to sell you additional coverage, such as Medicare Advantage plans, Medicare Part D prescription drug plans, or supplemental insurance plans.
• Your Medicare plan is changing. If your Medicare plan is changing, you may receive calls from your insurance company to inform you of the changes and to offer you help choosing a new plan if necessary.
• You have been targeted by scammers. Unfortunately, there are also scammers who use Medicare as a way to target seniors and defraud them. These scammers may call you and claim to be from Medicare or a Medicare-related organization. They may try to get you to give them your personal information, such as your Medicare ID number or Social Security number.

If you receive a call about Medicare, it is important to be cautious and to ask questions. If you are unsure whether the caller is legitimate, you should hang up and call Medicare directly at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

Here are some tips to help you avoid Medicare scams:

• Never give out your personal information, such as your Medicare ID number or Social Security number, to someone you do not know and trust.
• Be wary of unsolicited calls from people who claim to be from Medicare or a Medicare-related organization.
• If you are unsure whether a caller is legitimate, hang up and call Medicare directly at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
• You can also report Medicare scams to the Medicare Fraud Hotline at 1-800-MEDIGAP (1-800-633-4227).

I hope this information is helpful.