Americans searching online for Medicare information are being warned not to assume the first result is legitimate, as scammers increasingly pay to place ads at the top of search results. The Federal Trade Commission issued a new warning ahead of Medicare Open Enrollment, which runs from October 15 to December 7, saying health insurance scams occur year-round but increase during Medicare and Health Insurance Marketplace enrollment periods. The FTC cautioned that bad actors sometimes buy prominent search placement and create websites specifically designed to resemble official government pages.
The FTC said in May that fraud, errors and abuse cost taxpayers about $60 billion annually. The fraud can also contribute to medical identity theft, leading to lost benefits and higher medical costs. These schemes include some providers billing twice for the same treatment, charging Medicare for medical equipment a beneficiary never received or needed, or even selling fake Medicare drug plans.
The FTC's latest alert warns that Medicare scammers pay to rank at the top of search results. "Scammers and dishonest businesses sometimes pay to appear at the top," the agency said. The FTC issued a similar warning in June, telling people seeking health insurance or information about government health programs such as Medicare that dishonest businesses sometimes buy ads at the top of results that resemble official government websites.
The advertisements are often intended to trick people into providing personal information, paying unnecessary fees or enrolling in misleading services. Someone searches for Medicare, clicks the first result, and assumes they've reached the government. Scammers pay for that position, copy familiar logos, and make the whole thing look so official,” Michael Ryan, a finance expert and the founder of MichaelRyanMoney.com, told Newsweek.
They just have to catch someone on the way to it.” Medicare beneficiaries can also seek help comparing costs, coverage and plans through their State Health Insurance Assistance Program or their local Senior Medicare Patrol. Keep in mind, Medicare will never call or visit someone's home unexpectedly to sell them something. The problem is some of those who qualify do a quick online search, and, more frequently, some of the top results are actually tied to scams meant to obtain your data.” Medicare fraud isn't limited to fake enrollment sites.
You may also encounter allegations of double billing or charges for medical supplies you didn't receive. In some cases, scammers use fake drug plans or attempt to obtain your Medicare number for fraud. Scammers exploit that uncertainty.
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