posted on November 1, 2023
Senior Medicare Patrol
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It is that time of year again – open enrollment for Medicare prescription drug coverage and
Medicare Advantage plans. Open enrollment occurs annually from October 15 to December 7. If
you are on Medicare, you have an opportunity to change your Part D Prescription Drug Plan and/or
Advantage plan during this time.
In order to safely navigate through changes, the Missouri SMP wants you to be aware of the
marketing guidelines for the plans. Medicare plans cannot:

  • Call you if they have no prior relationship with you.
  • Send emails to you if you have not agreed to receive emails from them.
  • Mail or call you if you have opted out of receiving communications from them.
  • Claim they come from or were sent by Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security.
  • Make uninvited visits to your home – door-to-door sales.
  • Leave information such as leaflets, flyers, or door hangers on your car or at your
    home unless you were a “no show” for an appointment.
  • Talk about other insurance products, such as life insurance annuities, during a visit or
    meeting about prescription drug coverage or Medicare Advantage.
  • Return uninvited to your home after an earlier “no show.”
    To avoid becoming the target of abuse or fraud, do not give out your Medicare information
    to anyone calling you on the phone or emailing you. If the callers are from Medicare or your
    insurance company, they would already have that information.
    If you have questions, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or Missouri SHIP at 1-800-
    390-3330. To learn more or report suspected Medicare fraud, call the Missouri SMP at 1-888-
    515-6565.
    This project was supported, in part, by the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as
    part of a financial assistance award totaling $662,347 with 100 percent funding by ACL/HHS. The contents are those of the author and do not necessarily
    represent the official views of , nor an endorsement by, ACL/HHS, or the U.S. Government
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Comments 38

  3. Mildred Perry
    • Reply

    Good information. I will record the phone numbers for reference.

  6. Judy Bolian
    • Reply

    Thank you for this information. I no longer pick up local calls because I get daily calls wanting to issue me a new medicare card . The voice sounds foreign. If they leave a message I will call back. It worries me.

  8. sandra kruse
    • Reply

    spoke to a very informative women from SHIP…..Mo Safety Health Insurance Program

    I believe this is a federal program..

  27. Brenda Morgan
    • Reply

    This was very interesting I was able tolearn alot y reading this Thank You

  35. 3va Tox
    • Reply

    Thank you for such great and very so much needed information• Scamming seniors continue on the rise. Scamming the elderly leaves them devastated, without trust, helpless, unable to recover, fearful, too stress to go on, and great loses.

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