Protecting Yourself from Improper Marketing

by Colleen Clark, SHIBA Program Supervisor

Senior Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) are warning consumers shopping for Medicare health insurance to be wary of improper marketing by telemarketers and television commercials.

Here are some tips to keep you safe:

• Screen Phone Calls

• Be Wary of Advertisements

• Ensure the Plan is Right for You

Screen your phone calls. If anyone calls you with whom you did not have a scheduled appointment, and requests personal or private information such as your Medicare number, Social Security Number, bank, or credit card information, hang up!

Be wary of advertisements. You want to be cautious about changing your insurance plan based on advertisements on television, from telemarketing, or in print. Any extra benefits in Medicare insurance ads on the television or in mailings might not be available where you live. Be sure to get all the details in writing before you sign up.

Ensure the plan is right for you. Before you sign up, reach out to your doctors to verify they are in that plan’s network and check if your prescription drugs are covered.

You do not need both Medigap and Medicare Advantage. Even if someone promises that you can keep your Medigap plan (supplemental plan) and have a Medicare Advantage plan, it is against the rules and is not beneficial to have both.

What is SHIBA?

Idaho SHIBA is a service of the State of Idaho Department of Insurance Consumer Services Bureau.

We provide free, unbiased Medicare benefit information and assistance for all Idahoans with Medicare. We do not sell insurance or recommend specific insurance products.

What can SHIBA do for you?

SHIBA offers an array of services in-person, online or by phone.

• Medicare Workshops provide an in-depth overview of Medicare for those who are starting Medicare, helping others, or just want to learn.

• The SHIBA Medicare Helpline (1-800-247-4422) connects you with a real person who is a Certified Medicare Counselor and can answer your Medicare benefit questions, schedule appointments with a Medicare Counselor, and can help guide you to online information and resources.

• Medicare Counseling Appointments provide beneficiaries with a one-on-one meeting with a Certified Medicare Counselor in person, over the phone, or a web-based platform. During these appointments counselors assist beneficiaries to understand their benefits so they can determine the best coverage from what is available to them when becoming eligible for Medicare, or eligible for a Special Enrollment Period due to a qualifying change in situation.

• Annual Open Enrollment Counseling Appointments provide beneficiaries with a one-on-one meeting with a Certified Medicare Counselor to review their coverage and determine the best coverage, from what is available, for the following year.

• The SHIBA Website (shiba.idaho.gov) is a great resource for current beneficiaries, those who are new to Medicare, and those who are assisting others. It offers information on

| Medicare and Idaho-Specific Coverage and Rules

| Medicare Advantage Plans and Prescription Drug Coverage

| Idaho Medigap Rates

| Resources For Seniors and Caregivers

| Programs Available to Help Save Money on Medicare Costs

| How To File a Medicare Complaint

| SHIBA’s Calendar of Events and Registration

| Volunteer Information

| And So Much More!

It is important to make the right decisions at the right time and get help if you need it. SHIBA will provide that help. Call SHIBA today at 1-800-247-4422. The SHIBA Helpline is open you!

7:00 AM – 4:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday-Friday.

Colleen Clark is the SHIBA Program Supervisor at the Idaho Department of Insurance. She is a Certified Public Manager and Medicare Counselor. Colleen is passionate about serving the residents of Idaho and ensuring they have the resources needed to enjoy a healthy life.