More people selling
coverage in the state than ever before.
Posted: Nov. 3, 2018 4:43 PM
Posted By: Mike Bunge
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota insurance
regulators are investigating potentially misleading advertising for new
Medicare coverage.
The Minnesota Commerce Department is warning
older consumers to watch out for scams as the open enrollment period begins.
Kelli Jo Greiner, who's with the state Board on
Aging, said a change in federal law is ending Medicare Cost plans and forcing
nearly 400,000 Minnesota residents to find new coverage. Greiner said there are
more insurers and agents selling Medicare coverage in the state than ever
before.
"With that you see the susceptibility to
illegal — or marketing practices that are not necessarily what they should
be," she said.
Greiner said the board is receiving more reports
than usual about elderly residents receiving unsolicited, high-pressure sales
calls.
"Direct calls — unless the beneficiary has
said they want that call — cannot be initiated by the company and we're seeing
that's happening in Minnesota," she said.
Greiner said seniors are feeling frustrated with
the end of the Cost plans and the intense selling activity.
Residents should also be aware of the
differences between the official Medicare website, which is Medicare.gov, and
non-government sites such as Medicare.com or Medicare.net, the Commerce
Department said.
Consumers looking to get out of a plan have
until the end of open enrollment on Dec. 7 to make the switch. Those seeking to
replace a Cost plan have until Feb. 23 to make a change, Greiner said.
Residents with questions should reach out to the state's Senior LinkAge, she
said.
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