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 Thank you for visiting the Department of Financial Service’s Senior
Resource Center and the Medicare Prescription Drug Resources page.
We created this resource to help Florida’s seniors navigate the many
new options available to help pay prescription drug costs under
Medicare. We also want make sure you are not preyed upon by scam
artists trying to exploit seniors interested in these new options.
The open enrollment period
for Medicare health and prescription drug coverage starts November
15, 2006, and I am encouraging consumers to beware of scams and to
take advantage of new resources available on-line, including a
comparison of Medicare options and a Medicare prescription drug plan
finder at www.medicare.gov/.
The open enrollment period begins November 15 and ends December 31.
During this time, seniors will have the opportunity to make a change
in their health and prescription drug plans. If an individual lacks
coverage and doesn’t sign up during open enrollment, a penalty of as
much as one-percent per month could be added to the monthly premium.
Here are tips to seniors to avoid becoming victims of scam artists:
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Beware of door-to-door
salesmen. Agents cannot solicit business at your home.
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Seniors cannot be asked
to enroll in a plan prior to Nov. 15, 2006.
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Seniors should never
give personal information unless the person or the product is
approved by Medicare.
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Salesmen are not allowed
to ask seniors for personal information when marketing products.
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Questions about products
being offered can be answered at 1-800-MEDICARE.
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If fraud is suspected,
seniors should call the U.S. Health and Human Services Inspector
General at 1-800-HHS-TIPS.
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