Medicare Open Enrollment begins October 15, but scammers aren’t waiting for the official start date to target Americans searching for health coverage. The Federal Trade Commission recently warned that dishonest businesses and fraudsters are using misleading advertisements, government impersonation, and questionable insurance offers to take advantage of consumers comparing their options. For retirees trying to manage healthcare costs on a fixed income, one wrong decision could mean losing money, exposing sensitive information, or enrolling in coverage that doesn’t provide the benefits they expected.
In a September 2026 consumer alert, the FTC specifically cautioned consumers about deceptive online search results that imitate official government healthcare websites. With Medicare’s annual enrollment period running from October 15 through December 7, understanding common Medicare Open Enrollment scams is especially important right now. Here are seven schemes worth recognizing before reviewing your coverage for 2027.
