Misleading Medicare Marketing During the Annual Enrollment Period: "The Medicare Fraud of the Month for November"

ALBANY, N.Y., Nov. 10, 2026 — The New York StateWide Senior Action Council (StateWide), a 54-year-old non-profit organization dedicated to serving the needs and well-being of our State's more than 3.6 million senior citizens, today announced its Medicare Fraud of the Month for November: "Misleading Medicare Marketing Tactics During the Annual Enrollment Period October 15 through December 7.

The StateWide Fraud of the Month is a component of the Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP), the definitive resource for New York State's older adults and caregivers to detect, prevent, and report healthcare fraud, errors, and abuse. StateWide is New York's grantee/administrator for this Federal Program.

Maria Alvarez, Executive Director of StateWide, explains, "Health insurance companies use TV, radio, events, mailings, phone calls, and texts to market their plans during this time period. There are rules to protect you."

Alvarez added, "Watch for the following warning signs:"

• Requests For Personal Information:
  • Be cautious if someone asks for Medicare numbers, Social Security numbers, or bank information before deciding to enroll.
• Claims to be from Medicare
  • Plans can't claim to represent or be endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.
• Use of High-Pressure Tactics
  • Take time to review plans! The entire Annual Enrollment Period is there for comparing options.
• Unsolicited Flyers or Door Hangers
  • There are limits on how plans can contact Medicare beneficiaries including leaving materials at home or on cars.

StateWide offers the following tips for Seniors to protect themselves:

• Opt Out
  • Seniors can ask plans to stop sending marketing communications.
• Review Medicare Annual Notice of Change Correspondence
  • Read it carefully to understand changes to current coverage.
• Know What You're Agreeing To
  • Before meeting with a plan representative, review the Scope of Appointment form.
    • It identifies the Medicare products they are authorized to discuss.

• Ask for Everything in Writing
  • Before enrolling, understand how the plan will affect current Medicare coverage.

Alvarez concluded, "StateWide offers certified counselors ready to help. They offer free, personalized, confidential, unbiased information about Medicare options including prescription drug plans. Call our Helpline at 800-333-4374 or visit us at www.nysenior.org."

StateWide also provides information and educational presentations, assistance regarding any Medicare questions, plan comparisons, appeals, billing issues and patients' rights to all seniors throughout New York State.

It is estimated that Medicare fraud costs taxpayers over $60 billion dollars nationally per year. To help combat this illicit industry StateWide announced its Fraud of the Month program in 2022 to highlight these scams being perpetrated on the State's seniors.

SOURCE New York StateWide Senior Action Council, Inc.