What to know ahead of Open Enrollment to avoid health insurance scams

Health insurance scams happen year-round, but they pick up during Open Enrollment for Medicare and the Marketplace. If you’re looking to find a new plan, you might search online. But before you click on a search result, remember: scammers and dishonest businesses sometimes pay to appear at the top.

Bad actors often use web addresses that look similar to government website addresses. They also use keywords and official-looking logos to make you think you’re at the real Healthcare.gov or Medicare.gov when you’re not. If you use the link or phone number in the ad, you might end up paying for a scammy plan that’s not health insurance, or expose yourself to medical identity theft. 

How can you avoid health insurance scams as you search for options? 

• Type the name of the website directly into the search engine. For Medicare, it’s Medicare.gov, or call 800-633-4227. To compare health insurance plans, check your coverage, or find out if you qualify for savings, go to HealthCare.gov or call 800-318-2596.
• Take your time. Look for small “Ad” or “Sponsored” labels next to search results to identify paid ads. Scroll past paid ads and be sure to look for the .gov ending. 
• Get help to compare costs, coverage, and plans. You can also get Medicare help through your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) or local Senior Medicare Patrol. For additional help with ACA plans, visit HealthCare.gov and click “Find Local Help.”
• Learn more. Join a roundtable conversation about Medicare and healthcare-related scams with representatives from the FTC, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and the Senior Medicare Patrol on September 29, 2026 at 1pm ET.

Suspect a health insurance scam? Tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and your state attorney general. If the scam involves Medicare, report it at Medicare.gov or 800-633-4227.