Health Net Reminds Seniors to Be Wary of Telephone Scams

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.

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