The caller sounds professional, knows you’re on Medicare, and says there’s a plan in your area with benefits you’re missing. Before answering even a seemingly harmless question, however, it pays to know who is actually allowed to contact you and what information should remain private. Medicare’s marketing rules say people representing Medicare plans generally aren’t allowed to call you unless you’re already a member of that plan or you’ve given permission to be contacted, although an agent who previously helped you enroll may contact you.
Medicare itself also says it will never call you to sell you anything, making unexpected Medicare plan calls worth treating cautiously. A legitimate plan comparison could potentially save money, but handing information to the wrong caller could expose your Medicare identity or even lead to an enrollment you never intended to make. Make sure you do these seven things before you answer any questions.
