Ahead of Open Enrollment, Fake Health Insurance Sites Hide in Paid Search Results

Health insurance scams happen year-round, but they pick up during Open Enrollment for Medicare and the Marketplace. When you search online for a new plan, scammers and dishonest businesses sometimes pay to appear at the top of the results. They use web addresses that look similar to government websites, along with keywords and official-looking logos, to make you think you are at the real Medicare.gov or HealthCare.gov when you are not. If you use the link or phone number in the ad, you might end up paying for a scammy plan that is not health insurance, or expose yourself to medical identity theft.

The protection is to go directly to the official sources: for Medicare, type Medicare.gov into your browser or call 800-633-4227; to compare Marketplace plans or check if you qualify for savings, go to HealthCare.gov or call 800-318-2596. When you do search, look for small "Ad" or "Sponsored" labels next to results, scroll past the paid ads, and check that the web address ends in .gov. You can also get free help comparing plans through your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) or the local Senior Medicare Patrol. If you suspect a health insurance scam, tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and your state attorney general; if Medicare is involved, report it at Medicare.gov or 800-633-4227.