The First Search Result May Not Be the Medicare Website.
Advice
Open enrollment is busy enough without a fake website borrowing the colors and confidence of a real one.
The Federal Trade Commission warns that scammers and dishonest businesses may pay to appear near the top of search results. A web address can look official at a glance and still lead somewhere you shouldn't share your Medicare number, Social Security number or payment information.
Start with the address, not the advertisement. For Medicare, type Medicare.gov into the browser yourself or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). For Marketplace coverage, use HealthCare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596.
Look for the small “Ad” or “Sponsored” label. Then check the ending of the web address. A polished logo is easy to copy. A .gov address is harder to fake.
If someone says you must decide during the call, pay immediately or move your money to keep it safe, pause. Open enrollment has deadlines, but an honest helper can still give you time to understand what you're choosing.
Suspect a scam? Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If it involves Medicare, contact Medicare directly as well.
