Dear Caregivers,
It's Medicare Open Enrollment, and now is the time to take a closer look at health insurance coverage for yourself and your loved one. But as you review your options, there's something else to keep in mind: scammers are also taking advantage of this busy enrollment season!
Medicare's annual Open Enrollment period, which runs from October 15th through December 7th, gives you an opportunity to review your current Medicare health plan and prescription drug coverage and make any changes, which will take effect on January 1st, 2027.
As a caregiver of a loved one with Alzheimer's disease, this can be a particularly important task. That’s because your loved one's medical needs continually evolve, and so their insurance needs may change as well. A plan that worked well last year may not be the best choice for the coming year, particularly if medications, doctors, or other healthcare services have changed. Unfortunately, Medicare can also be confusing, with its alphabet soup of coverage options—Parts A, B, C, and D—not to mention Medicare Advantage, Medigap, and other programs.
Adding to this confusion is that scammers are also hard at work this enrollment season. Some scammers may pretend to represent Medicare, offering benefits that sound too good to be true. Others may use official-looking advertisements or websites to persuade you to hand over your Medicare number or other personal information.
Here are some ideas on how you can make informed decisions about your Medicare coverage while protecting yourself and your loved one from fraud.
REVIEW YOUR COVERAGE: Pay particular attention to whether your loved one's doctors, hospitals, pharmacies, and medications will still be covered in 2027. Consider your monthly premiums and potential out-of-pocket expenses, including deductibles and copayments, and whether your current plan is still your best option. Remember, if your current coverage still meets your needs, you don’t have to do anything.
WATCH OUT FOR SCAMMERS: Be wary of unexpected phone calls, emails, text messages, or online advertisements that promise free benefits, or claim that your loved one needs a new Medicare card, or insist that you must act immediately to avoid losing coverage. Remember, Medicare personnel will not unexpectedly call you to demand your Medicare number, Social Security number, or financial information. If you're unsure whether a call is genuine, hang up and contact Medicare directly at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
PROTECT YOUR INFO! You should guard your Medicare number as carefully as you would a credit card number. Never provide a Medicare number to an unexpected caller, or enter it or other information into an unfamiliar website that invites you to enter your name, phone number, or other information to find out whether you qualify for "new Medicare benefits." No matter what a company offers, never feel pressured to respond. Instead, seek information through Medicare.gov or another trusted source.
ASK FOR HELP: You don't need to navigate Medicare's complexities alone. Florida's SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) Program provides free, unbiased Medicare counseling to help beneficiaries understand their coverage and compare available options. SHINE counselors do not sell insurance and will not tell you which company or plan to choose. You can contact SHINE at 1-800-96-ELDER (1-800-963-5337) and at FloridaSHINE.org.
Remember, Medicare Open Enrollment isn't necessarily about finding a new plan. It's about making sure that the coverage you have continues to meet your needs—and avoiding being scammed!
Here are some NAN resources that can help you better understand Medicare, protect your personal information, and make informed financial decisions.
Paying for Care for Elderly Loved Ones:
One of the most confusing aspects of caregiving is understanding what Medicare does—and doesn't—cover. This guide explains the different parts of Medicare, the types of healthcare services generally covered, and the important limitations on paying for long-term care, memory care, and other services. Here's how to better understand your coverage and costs.
How Families can Navigate the Costs of Caregiving:
Depending on your loved one’s illness and the financial and family resources they have, caregiving can have a significant impact on the financial stability of both the patient and the family members. Here’s how to prepare and plan.
Protecting Yourself and Your Loved One Against Fraud and Scams:
Unfortunately, older adults and people with cognitive impairments can be particularly vulnerable to scammers. This guide provides practical advice for recognizing suspicious solicitations, safeguarding sensitive information, and avoiding common forms of financial fraud. Here's how to protect yourself and your loved one.
Best,
Rosemary D Laird, MD, MHSA
Founder and Chief Medical Officer
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
— Benjamin Franklin
