Open enrollment season for Medicare Advantage and MAPD means
increased activity that can lead to identity theft or financial loss
Company Website:
http://www.healthnet.com
LOS ANGELES -- (Business Wire)
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.
Follow Health Net
Like Health Net on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/healthNetInc
Follow Health Net on Twitter: https://twitter.com/healthnet
Visit Health Net on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/HealthNetInc
Connect with Health Net on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/health-net
This release contains references and links to other websites that may
contain content that is not owned or controlled by Health Net. Please be
aware that references and links to other websites are provided for the
user’s convenience and that Health Net is not responsible for any such
content that is not owned or controlled by Health Net. Health Net does
not express an opinion on any such content and disclaims any liability
in connection therewith.
Contacts:
Health Net, Inc.
Lori Rieger, (602) 794-1415
lori.rieger@healthnet.com
www.twitter.com/hnlori
Source: Health Net, Inc.
© 2024 Canjex Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.