Did you get a postcard from Medicare? Although it may look as though this postcard really did come from the government run Medicare insurance program, you need to be aware that it is not what it seems to be. Instead, these postcards are from private insurance companies who are trying to trick consumers into contacting them.
Medicare is a government run health insurance program that is for American citizens who are age 65 or older. People who have certain disabilities, or who have End State Renal Disease may also be eligible for the Medicare program. There are four parts to Medicare, and each part is slightly different. To enroll in Medicare, you need to sign up with the Social Security office. In general, this gives you Medicare Part A, which covers inpatient hospital care, and care from skilled nursing facilities. It also gives you Part B, which is medical insurance. This covers doctor visits, outpatient care, and preventative services. Usually, Medicare Part B pays for around 80% of these costs.
Private insurance companies offer Medicare Part C, which includes both Part A and Part B. The private insurance companies also offer Medicare Part D, which is a prescription drug plan. Although Part C and Part D are connected with Medicare, it is the private insurance companies, not the government, who sell these kinds of health insurance policies.
Some insurance companies are trying to trick people into contacting them. If you received a postcard that looks like it came from the government run Medicare program, you need to understand that this is impossible. The government doesn’t send out postcards to potential Medicare recipients. If it wants to send you something in the mail, it will be in a sealed envelope.
So, why are some insurance companies sending out these misdirecting postcards? It is their hope that the consumer who gets the postcard will believe that it really is something from Medicare. The insurance company wants you to contact them, so they can attempt to sell you the Medicare Part C and Part D policies that they offer. Basically, they are hoping to fool you into thinking that you are signing up with the government run Medicare program, when really, you are paying a private insurance company. You may, or may not, need Part C or Part D. It depends on your situation. The insurance company that sent you the postcard is hoping to make you feel as though you absolutely have to buy what they are selling. In short, the fake Medicare postcard is a way for the insurance company to scare up some business.
Image by Steve Johnson on Flickr