Insurance companies target seniors as easy prey during Medicare open enrollment

Do seniors, most of whom are on low or fixed incomes, deserve to be left with high medical bills and without coverage or access to their doctors just so insurance companies can make an easy buck?

Most of us would say no, and so did members of Congress when they passed the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 in July - a bill that restricts insurance industry marketing tactics such as telemarketing, door-to-door solicitation, and providing meals to prospective clients.

Despite lawmakers cracking down on these unethical sales practices, during the 2008 year-end Medicare annual election period, some companies are up to their old tricks. They continue to swindle one of the country's most vulnerable populations while taking advantage of the fact that the vast array of options available through Medicare is  confusing enough to boggle just about anyone's mind.

In the past, insurance companies - including PBMs offering prescription coverage through Medicare Part D plans as well as private companies selling government-sponsored Medicare Advantage plans - have used aggressive, unsolicited marketing tactics to switch seniors to plans that are not appropriate for the individual but offer hefty financial incentives to sales agents or companies.

And as seniors lose supplemental coverage and physician access, some companies continue to rip off seniors by identifying themselves as Medicare representatives, buying seniors' trust with perks like free eyeglasses and cell phones, and lying outright about plan benefits.

If you are contacted by insurance sales agents, resist the pressure. Take your time to be certain the coverage and costs are right for you. This includes premiums, deductibles, co-pays, which types of doctor and hospital visits are eligible, and limits on medication, as well as coverage with current providers.

If you are subject to illegal sales tactics, call 1-800-Medicare.