HomeTown Insurance & Financial Services is a trusted, independent agency based in Pagosa Springs, serving Medicare clients across Colorado and New Mexico. As a locally rooted, award-recognized agency, we want to help you stay safe, informed, and confident about your Medicare coverage choices.
Why Medicare Scams Ramp Up During Open Enrollment
During Open Enrollment, people with Medicare can join, switch, or drop health and drug plans. It’s a perfect time to compare options, look at premiums, and consider new benefits.
Scammers take advantage of this busy season by:
- Pretending to be from Medicare or an insurance company to look “official.”
- Calling, emailing, or texting out of the blue about “your Medicare plan.”
- Asking for your Medicare Number, Social Security number, or banking information.
- Signing you up for a plan without your consent, just to collect commissions or bill Medicare fraudulently.
That’s exactly why Medicare and HomeTown Insurance want to remind you about fraud and scam awareness this season; your vigilance really matters.
During Medicare Open Enrollment, you never need to rely on a stranger’s phone call. You can always hang up and call a trusted local agent instead.
Quick Ways to Spot a Medicare Scam
Here are some quick red flags to watch for:
- Unsolicited calls about Medicare plans.
Legitimate agents and brokers who represent Medicare plans are required to have your permission before contacting you. If someone calls you out of the blue claiming to be from Medicare or “the Medicare office,” that’s a red flag. - Pressure to “act now” or “you’ll lose your coverage.”
Scammers use fear and urgency. A reputable agent will take time to explain your options and give you space to decide. - Requests for your Medicare Number or Social Security number to keep coverage “active.”
Medicare fraud and abuse often starts with stolen personal information. You should only share your Medicare or Social Security number with providers or insurers you know and trust. - Offers of gift cards, cash, or “free” medical equipment in exchange for your Medicare Number.
These “free” offers can lead to fraudulent claims in your name. - Someone tries to enroll you in a plan over the phone when you didn’t call them first.
Medicare warns not to join a health or drug plan over the phone unless you initiated the call and asked for help.
If something feels off, it probably is. Hang up, delete the email, or ignore the text.
Treat your Medicare Number like a credit card, never give it to anyone you don’t know, and never share it just to keep your coverage ‘active.’
What Medicare Says to Do if You Suspect Fraud
Medicare.gov shares clear advice on how to protect yourself from Medicare fraud and medical identity theft:
- Guard your Medicare information.
Treat your Medicare card and Number like a credit card. Don’t share it with anyone except your doctor, trusted insurance agents, or people you know should have it. - Check your statements regularly.
Compare the dates and services on your Medicare Summary Notices or Explanation of Benefits with your own records (a calendar, notebook, or folder where you track visits). If you see a service you don’t recognize, call your provider’s office and ask about it. - Know what Medicare health and drug plans can—and can’t—do.
Before you join a plan, you can review what plan representatives are allowed to say and do when marketing to you. - Report suspected fraud right away.
If you think something isn’t right, contact: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), or Report suspicious activity online through the Office of Inspector General.
The Medicare.gov page “Reporting Medicare fraud & abuse” walks you through examples of fraud, how to protect yourself, and what information to have ready when you call.
HomeTown Insurance: Your Local, Trusted Medicare Resource
Sorting through plan options online while also worrying about scammers can be overwhelming. That’s where our team at HomeTown Insurance & Financial Services, Inc. comes in.
Here’s how we help keep Medicare simple and safe for you:
- Local, independent expertise.
We’re based in Pagosa Springs and help Medicare clients across Colorado and New Mexico with health, drug, and supplemental coverage. - Award-recognized, real-person support.
HomeTown has been recognized for their top performing Medicare service in the state of Colorado! - No surprise enrollments. Ever.
We only enroll you in a plan with your full knowledge and consent. We walk through plan options together, explain the details in plain language, and make sure you understand costs, networks, and coverage before anything is submitted. - We help you double-check anything suspicious.
If you receive a call, email, or letter about your Medicare coverage and you’re not sure it’s legitimate, you can hang up, set it aside, and contact us directly. Our team can help you sort out what’s real and what’s a scam.
Instead of trusting an unknown caller ID, you can pick up the phone and call a team that already knows the local providers, plans, and resources in your community.
Your Next Steps to Stay Scam-Smart
A few quick actions you can take today:
1. Save key numbers in your phone.
- HomeTown Insurance & Financial Services, Inc. – (970) 264-4321 / 1-866-333-8342
- Medicare – 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227)
2. Use trusted, official resources.
- For plan comparison: Medicare.gov/plan-compare
- For fraud education and reporting: Medicare.gov – “Reporting Medicare fraud & abuse”
3. Share this reminder.
Talk to parents, grandparents, neighbors, and friends who are on Medicare. A quick conversation today could help them avoid a costly scam tomorrow.
Need Medicare Help in Colorado or New Mexico?
If you have questions about Medicare Open Enrollment, received a confusing letter, or just want to make sure you’re on the right plan, HomeTown Insurance & Financial Services is here for you.
We’ll help you review your coverage, compare options, and enroll safely. No pressure, no jargon, and no scammers.
👉 Have a question about Medicare or a suspicious call?
Use any secure contact form on our website or call us at (970) 264-4321 or 1-866-333-8342.
HomeTown’s Medicare team is right here to help you compare plans safely. No pressure, no jargon, and no scammers.
