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MODERATE THREAT · Consumer Fraud

Protect Yourself from Health Insurance Scams During Open Enrollment

As the Open Enrollment period for Medicare and the Health Insurance Marketplace approaches, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and other authorities are warning consumers about a surge in health insurance scams. Fraudsters are actively impersonating government agencies and legitimate insurers to steal personal information, money, or enroll victims in fraudulent plans.

10/9/2026Search EnginesEmailTelephoneSocial MediaPostal Mail

Warning signs

  • Search results for health insurance that feature 'Ad' or 'Sponsored' labels
  • Websites that look like government portals but do not end in .gov
  • Unsolicited calls, emails, or letters demanding immediate action to switch plans
  • Requests for your Medicare number or payment to 'confirm' enrollment or receive a new card
  • Offers for health plans that seem too good to be true or promise limited-time discounts

What you should do

  • Type official website addresses (Medicare.gov or Healthcare.gov) directly into your browser rather than clicking search ads.
  • Verify the legitimacy of any insurance offer by calling the official numbers: 1-800-633-4227 for Medicare or 1-800-318-2596 for the Marketplace.
  • Use official resources like the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) or Senior Medicare Patrol for free, unbiased help.
  • Report suspected scams to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and contact your state attorney general.
  • Never provide your Medicare number or financial information to unsolicited callers.
During Open Enrollment, scammers frequently use sophisticated tactics to deceive consumers. They often pay for search engine advertisements that appear at the top of results, using official-looking logos, keywords, and web addresses that mimic legitimate government sites like Medicare.gov or Healthcare.gov. By clicking these links or calling the provided numbers, consumers risk exposing themselves to medical identity theft or purchasing 'scammy' plans that offer little to no coverage. Common tactics include unsolicited calls, emails, or mailers claiming that you must act immediately to save money or confirm your Medicare number. Authorities emphasize that Medicare cards are provided automatically and for free, and legitimate enrollment assistance should never require a fee.

Sources

https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2026/09/what-know-ahead-open-enrollment-avoid-health-insurance-scamshttps://disb.dc.gov/page/beware-medicare-open-enrollment-scamshttps://www.ftc.gov/news-events/eventshttps://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2026/08/did-you-spot-scam-heres-what-do-next