This Medicare Open Enrollment season, learn how to protect yourself from scams

Here are some ways to protect yourself from Medicare scams during Open Enrollment — and year-round:

• Ignore unexpected calls from anyone who demands you share Medicare, personal, or financial information. Medicare will only ask you to verify information if you contact them first, and they won’t try to sell you anything or tell you to pay for your Medicare card. Only scammers do that.
• Don’t rely on your caller ID. It might show Medicare’s name or phone number, but caller ID can be faked. To check it out, hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
• Get help to compare costs, coverage, and plans. Contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for assistance. And find information about your coverage options at Medicare.gov — the official U.S. government site for Medicare — or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.

Report Medicare impersonators and other Medicare scams at 1-800-MEDICARE. Then tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

For additional help to prevent, detect, and report potential Medicare fraud, errors, and abuse, contact your local Senior Medicare Patrol.