Health Net Reminds Seniors to Be Wary of Telephone Scams
November 14 2014 - 8:30AM
Business Wire
Open enrollment season for Medicare Advantage
and MAPD means increased activity that can lead to identity theft
or financial loss
With open enrollment for Medicare Advantage and Medicare
Advantage Prescription Drug (MAPD) plans in full swing, Health Net,
Inc. reminds older Americans to be
wary of telephone scams.
That’s because, at this time of year, it’s high season for
unscrupulous individuals who are intent on deceiving seniors and
convincing them to divulge personal information, such as Social
Security or bank account numbers. Disclosing this type of
information can lead to identity theft or unauthorized bank account
withdrawals.
Scam Scenarios
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
(HHS), telephone scammers utilize a variety of ploys to trick
unsuspecting seniors, including identifying themselves as doctors,
health-insurance representatives, medical-equipment suppliers, as
well as employees of Medicare or Social Security.
They also use a variety of scenarios, from claiming that an
intended victim’s Medicare or Social Security file must be updated,
to offering discounted diagnostic tests.
Report Suspicious Calls
Health Net urges seniors to be vigilant about telephone scams,
and – if they receive a suspicious call – to contact the Centers
for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) at 1-800-MEDICARE
(1-800-633-4227); or call the Fraud Hotline of the HHS Office of
the Inspector General at 1-800-447-8477.
Be an Informed Consumer
In addition to being on the lookout for telephone scams, Health
Net also urges seniors to arm themselves with information before
selecting a Medicare plan. Open enrollment for Medicare Advantage
health plans and MAPD plans began on Oct. 15 and will continue
through Dec. 7.
According to Medicare.gov, seniors should compare plans based on
factors like:
- Coverage – Does the plan provide
the services that you need?
- Costs – How much are your
premiums, deductibles, and any other costs? How much do you pay for
services such as hospital stays or doctor visits? Is there an
annual limit on what you could pay out-of-pocket for medical
services?
- Doctor and hospital choice – Do
the doctors that you want to see accept the plan you’re
considering? Do you have to select hospitals and health-care
providers from a specified network? If you’d like to see a
specialist, do you first have to obtain a referral?
- Prescription drugs – How much
will you have to pay for prescription drugs, and are the
medications that you need included in the plan's formulary?
- Quality of care – Medicare uses
a Star Rating System to measure how well Medicare Advantage plans
perform. Plan ratings range from one to five stars, with five stars
representing the highest rating. Find out what the Star Rating is
for those plans that you’re considering.
- Convenience – Before selecting a
plan, find out the location and office hours of the health-care
providers that you would be utilizing. Additionally, determine
which pharmacies you would have access to, and if prescriptions can
be mailed.
- Travel – Will the plan cover you
if you travel to another state or outside the United States?
For additional information, visit http://www.medicare.gov or
https://www.healthnet.com/medicare.
Medical Advice Disclaimer
The information provided is not intended as medical advice or as
a substitute for professional medical care. Always seek the advice
of your physician or other health provider for any questions you
may have regarding your medical condition and follow your health
care provider’s instructions.
About Health Net
Health Net, Inc. (NYSE: HNT) is a publicly traded managed care
organization that delivers managed health care services through
health plans and government-sponsored managed care plans. Its
mission is to help people be healthy, secure and comfortable.
Health Net provides and administers health benefits to
approximately 5.9 million individuals across the country
through group, individual, Medicare (including the Medicare
prescription drug benefit commonly referred to as “Part D”),
Medicaid, U.S. Department of Defense, including TRICARE, and
Veterans Affairs programs. Health Net also offers behavioral
health, substance abuse and employee assistance programs, managed
health care products related to prescription drugs, managed health
care product coordination for multi-region employers, and
administrative services for medical groups and self-funded benefits
programs.
For more information on Health Net, Inc., please visit Health
Net’s website at www.healthnet.com.
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Net. Please be aware that references and links to other websites
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Health Net, Inc.Lori Rieger, (602)
794-1415lori.rieger@healthnet.comwww.twitter.com/hnlori
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