Home > Department Press Releases/Newsletters/Reports | |
News Release |
New Jersey Department
of New Jersey Department
of Commissioner Jennifer Velez |
For Immediate Release: |
For Further Information: |
Christie Administration Cautions Seniors to Be Alert for Fraud during Medicare Open Enrollment |
TRENTON– New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance (DOBI) Acting Commissioner Ken Kobylowski and Department of Human Services (DHS) Deputy Commissioner Lowell Arye today urged consumers and health care providers to beware of unscrupulous or fraudulent activities during the annual Medicare open enrollment period, which runs from October 15 through December 7, 2012. “Senior citizens face many important choices during the Medicare open enrollment period, such as whether to maintain their current insurance carrier, whether their current level of coverage is adequate and much more,” said Acting Commissioner Kobylowski. “Before making a decision, they should review as much information as possible by looking at federal, state, insurance company, and health care provider websites and by asking direct questions to doctors, salespeople and carriers.” Private companies that contract with the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) offer Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D drug plans. The plans change annually and it is up to each beneficiary to choose whether to keep their current plan for the upcoming year or change to a new plan. “We encourage seniors with questions to trust the knowledgeable volunteers that provide free Medicare counseling through the State’s Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP),” said DHS Deputy Commissioner Lowell Arye, who oversees the Divisions of Aging Services and Family Development. “They provide the most up-to-date information about the technical aspects of Medicare in a way that makes sense and allows seniors to determine which plan is best suited to their needs.” Acting Commissioner Kobylowski urged consumers to be aware of the rules CMS adopted to guide sales practices and to protect consumers from improper marketing activities. The rules apply to all Medicare plans, agents, and any contractors who work for these plans. The rules say that plans and agents:
Acting Commissioner Kobylowski had additional advice for seniors to assist them in avoiding Medicare fraud. “As seniors review Medicare coverage options, which can be a challenge in itself, they must also be wary of fraud,” said Acting Commissioner Kobylowski. “Unfortunately there are some bad actors who seek to take advantage of senior citizens during open enrollment. But if seniors review all the information and exercise some basic precautions, they can avoid fraud and chose the insurance product that is best for them.” The Acting Commissioner offered senior citizens these tips to avoid and combat fraud:
For inquiries or complaints, consumers can call either (609)-292-7272 or the Department Consumer Hotline (800)-446-7467.
If you suspect fraud or abuse, you should contact the Department at 1-800-446-7467 or file a complaint online at: www.dobi.nj.gov For more information on Medicare coverage or to get help with a Medicare issue, call the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) at 1-800-792-8820 or go online at: www.state.nj.us/humanservices/doas/services/ship/. “Choosing the proper Medicare coverage and the best provider are very important decisions,” said Acting Commissioner Kobylowski. “We at the Departments of Banking and Insurance and Human Services are dedicated to providing the State’s senior citizens with the resources they need to make the best choices possible.” For more information Visit the Department’s Website at www.dobi.nj.gov Call the Department at 800-446-7467 or 609-292-7272.
|
|
### |
![]() |
||||
OPRA is a state law that was enacted to give the public greater access to government records maintained by public agencies in New Jersey. | ![]() |
You will need to download the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to correctly view and print PDF (Portable Document Format) files from this web site. |
![]() |
||
Copyright © 2011,
State of New Jersey New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance |