How to Tell a Real Medicare Plan Ad From a Misleading One

Use this before you call.

Want to talk to a licensed agent who will tell you who they are and what they can sell? Call GetFastRates.com.

Look for a specific plan name in the ad. If there is none, treat it as a lead-generation ad.

When someone answers, ask who they work for and which plans they can sell where you live.

Ask for their name and license number, and check it with your state insurance department.

Do not give your Medicare number until you have decided you want to enroll.

Ask for plan information in writing so you can read it on your own.

Call 1-800-MEDICARE or your State Health Insurance Assistance Program for an unbiased second opinion.

What a proper ad must do

Medicare's marketing rules say people representing plans may not advertise without using specific plan names, and may not advertise using confusing words or images or misleading Medicare logos.

It names the plans or the company that offers them.
It does not suggest the ad is from Medicare or the government when it is not.
It does not promise benefits to everyone that only some people in some plans will get.

Words that should make you stop

These phrases show up in ads and calls designed to get a response, not to explain a plan.

'You may be missing benefits you qualify for'
'Final notice' or 'last chance' about a Medicare benefit
'Medicare-approved' benefit card, allowance or gift
'Call now' with no plan or company name
'Government benefits update' on an envelope that is not from Medicare or Social Security

Who is really on the phone

Many ads send you to a call center run by a marketing company. That can be fine if the people are licensed agents who work with the plans you are shown, but you should know who they are.

Independent agents and brokers must be licensed by the state, and the plan must tell the state which agents sell its plans.
Ask for their license number and check it with your state's department of insurance.
You do not have to talk to a sales agent to get information about a plan.

Common questions about this topic

Is a TV commercial about Medicare coming from Medicare?

Almost never. Medicare does not run commercials selling plans. Most are paid for by private plans, agents or marketing companies.

Why do I get more calls after I call an ad number?

Some call centers pass your information to other agents or companies. That is one reason to ask who you are talking to before you share your details.

How do I check an agent's license?

Ask for their full name and license (NPN) number and look them up with your state's department of insurance. The NAIC consumer site can point you to it.

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Tools that can help

Medicare Enrollment Period CalculatorFind your Medicare enrollment window and what it means for your timing.Medicare Part B Late Enrollment Penalty CalculatorEstimate whether a Part B late enrollment penalty could apply to you.Medicare Plan Ending FinderCheck your carrier and ZIP code against current, verified plan-ending records.

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