Now through December 7th, is open enrollment season, which not only means it’s a good time to look at your insurance options, but also to watch out for Medicare fraud. While you’re shopping for the best health care deal out there, some look to separate you from your hard earned money. And as the AARP’s Sean Voskuhl points out scammers target rural and urban residents alike.

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“Scammers don’t care who you are or where you are from, they just want take advantage of whoever will fall for their trap. Just like in other years, Medicare scams spike during open enrollment season with scammers posing as insurance providers calling and emailing about free gifts or limited time offers. These scams are all designed to capture information scammers can use to bill Medicare for bogus services and treatment.”

So, what can you do to avoid falling for a scam?

“Be suspicious of anyone who calls, emails or visits you promoting a Medicare plan. Legitimate health plans can only contact you if you’ve requested information. Don’t give personal information to anyone who calls or visits out of the blue and always review your Medicare or explanation of benefits statement to ensure fraudulent charges aren’t included.”

Click Here for additional tips from the AARP.

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