Ruestman: Beware of Medicare Scams

As your state representative, I occasionally like to take the opportunity to offer valuable information which is provided to my office by State or Federal Departments.

This week my office received word from the Missouri Insurance Director that seniors who’ve reached the coverage gap, or “doughnut hole”, in Medicare Part D will receive a check for $250 soon. These one-time, tax-free checks are the first step in reducing the Medicare prescription drug coverage gap. Estimate show that 80,000 Missouri senior citizens will receive a check by the end of the year. It is important to note that seniors do not have to buy a new policy or modify their existing one to be eligible for the check. There is concern that some companies may try to scam consumers into buying new coverage or changing insurance companies with the promise of a $250 check. According to the Insurance Director, “Policyholders are entitled to these checks – there are no extra hurdles to jump through and no strings attached.”

Consumers should be aware of the following:

• No one working for the government will ever request personal information before the check can be sent.
• No federal employee or agent of the federal government will be selling insurance coverage.
• There is no such thing as an “Obamacare” policy.

If you have further questions, want to verify an agent or company or if you believe you may have been scammed, please call the Insurance Consumer Hotline at 800-726-7390 or visit http://insurance.mo.gov. You may also report scams directly to Medicare at 800-MEDICARE or http://stopmedicarefraud.gov.

If you have problems, questions or wish to express concern over an issue, please do not hesitate to contact me or my Legislator Assistant, Jonathan, at my Capitol office either by phone 573-751-9801 or by e-mail at Marilyn{dot}Ruestman{at}house{dot}mo{dot}gov.