By Rick Banas of BMA Management, Ltd.
Remember, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. This warning came in the latest Fraud Alert from Age Options and the Illinois SMP.
Age Options is the Area Agency on Aging for suburban Cook County. The Illinois SMP is the Illinois Senior Medicare Patrol program.
The warning stems from the report of an attempted scam of a resident of a senior building in southern Illinois. The resident received a phone call from someone who said the resident was eligible to have his rent paid. Funds for rent payment were ready to be sent; the resident just needed to provide the caller with bank account information so the money could be deposited into the account.
Fortunately, the resident recognized this as a scam and hung up. The resident also notified a staff member in the senior living building about the call.
Hanging up is the best thing you can do if you receive a call such as this. Never give out personal information such as bank account, credit card, Social Security or Medicare information to a stranger over the phone.
You should also report the incident to authorities so they can warn others.
Medicare Open Enrollment
This year, the Medicare Open Enrollment Period runs from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7. During this period of time, Medicare beneficiaries have the opportunity to enroll in or change their Medicare Part D prescription drug plan and/or their Medicare Advantage Plan.
Rather than simply allowing your plan to roll-over, it is a good idea to re-evaluate your situation each year during the Medicare Open Enrollment Period to be sure that your current plan is still the best for you. You can also determine what, if any changes, there may be to your current plan.
You can compare plans yourself by going to www.Medicare.gov or you can contact a benefits specialist at your local senior service Area Agency on Aging. To locate your local agency, you can go to www.eldercare.gov.
Medicare has specific rules for how insurance agents can market their Medicare plans, notes Age Options and the Illinois SMP in their Fraud Alert. One of the rules is that insurance agents are not allowed to cold call you.
For more information about the rules and what to watch out for during the Open Enrollment Period, click here.
Don’t be tricked by Medicare insurance marketing scams. Get the best plans for you.
All affordable assisted living communities managed by BMA Management, Ltd. are certified and surveyed by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. All assisted living communities are licensed and surveyed by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
“BMA Management, Ltd. is the leading provider of assisted living in Illinois
and one of the 20 largest providers of assisted living in the United States.”
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