"There may be some confusion because the open enrollment periods for Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D overlap the open enrollment period to obtain coverage under the ACA," said Governor LePage. "Seniors should be on guard against potential scams by people hoping to capitalize on any confusion. We want to reassure Medicare beneficiaries that they are already covered and their benefits are not changing."
"If Medicare recipients do want to make changes to their coverage, they should review their Medicare plans, not ACA Marketplace (previously called ‘exchange') options," said Superintendent Cioppa. "It is illegal for anyone to try to sell an ACA policy to someone who is already enrolled in Medicare."
The Bureau further cautions Medicare recipients against sharing their Medicare number or any other personal information with someone who calls or shows up at their door to sell them a health plan. Medicare will not call and ask for personal information, and Maine law prohibits individuals from selling Medicare products door-to-door, prior to receiving an invitation from a consumer.
Any Medicare recipient in Maine with questions or concerns about an unsolicited call or visit from someone who wants to sell health insurance, or who is asking for personal information, is urged to call and report the interaction to the Bureau at 1-800-500-3000.
The annual open-enrollment period for Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plans runs from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7. Information on open enrollment can be found at Medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE. Information and assistance regarding Medicare enrollment issues is also available by contacting Maine's State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) at one of the five Area Agencies on Aging at 1-877-353-3771.
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