By Susan Stewart, Licensed Insurance Agent
If you have Medicare, chances are you’ve received a call about your coverage that left you confused, worried, or pressured to decide. Some callers will claim you have a problem with your Medicare plan. Others will promise new benefits, grocery cards, or extra money. Some even claim your Medicare information has been compromised.
I often hear from clients frustrated by these calls, due to the pressure tactics and sheer volume. Here are some common Medicare marketing call tactics that should warn you against sharing personal information:
“There’s a problem with your plan” or “Your plan is losing benefits.”
If there is a problem with your plan, you would get a letter from your carrier, possibly followed by a phone call from the carrier. They would give you advance notice of what is happening and what your options are. If you get a call stating there’s a problem, check with your agent or call the Member Services number on your benefits card.
“You are eligible for extra benefits, and it won’t affect your current Medicare plan.”
That is an out-and-out lie. I cannot think of any scenario in which that statement would be true. The benefits are built into your Medicare plan. They can’t be added or tacked on with another carrier, but keep your current plan. This is the most common way my clients end up in a new plan without understanding what happened.
“New plans have just come out.”
I will not have access to new plans till October 1. These plans will have a start date of January 1, 2027. Only rarely do plans come out mid-year.
“You are eligible for a grocery card.”
Grocery cards are never offered separate from your Medicare plan. In varying amounts, grocery cards are available for people on Chronic Special Needs Plans. These plans are primarily targeted for beneficiaries with chronic heart disease or diabetes, though there are sometimes other qualifying diagnoses. Also, people with Medicaid and Medicare can be eligible for grocery cards. If you don’t have a qualifying chronic health condition or Medicaid, few plans will genuinely offer assistance with food. Don’t waste your time.
“There has been unauthorized use of your Medicare ID number.”
Someone telling you that your data is compromised can be frightening because scams stealing Medicare ID numbers are real. However, if this happens, Medicare does not call you. If your personal information gets compromised via your Medicare plan, you will receive a letter that you would not doubt is official. If you receive one, the letter will tell you what has happened and how to get help. Call 1-800-638-4226, the federal Office of Medicare, to confirm. Give nothing over the phone.
Don’t be shy about asking for more information before you give any information. If what you’re being told brings anxiety or seems too good to be true, slow down. Ask questions. Don’t make it easy to be fooled.
Not every call is a scam.
My job has recently changed. I now call people who already have policies with the company I work for that are “orphaned.” Their agents are no longer with the company, so I become their new agent going forward.
My job is to support and help, but people don’t always trust me early in the call. They don’t know me. I take no offense at that and willingly answer any question I am asked. When asked if I’m a robot, I’ll respond with what I can see out the window or say I have three granddaughters. Something that makes me real and isn’t a canned AI response.
Can you see and feel the difference between the two kinds of calls? One kind brings anxiety, pressure, and even fear. The other looks to reassure while taking time to build rapport. One expects immediate answers to sensitive questions where the other takes time to explain and make sure you understand the purpose of the call before having to do make any decisions.
Have an agent? Call them. Double-check what you’ve been told. Be savvy. Pay attention. Protect yourself.
