INSURANCE

Q:How can I be sure I’m calling or contacting Medicare for information? I’m always afraid I will accidentally call or connect to a scammer.

A:1-800-MEDICARE (1-800633-4227) is the official Medicare phone number where you can call for help with your coverage, claims, payments and more. Help is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and is available in both English and Spanish.

When you call, have your Medicare number handy. If you are calling about a claim or a bill, have the invoice or Explanation of Benefits in front of you for easy reference, and a pen and paper ready to write down any important information your Medicare representative may share such as additional phone numbers, dollar amounts, dates and more. Medicare also provides a TTY, or text telephone number for the hearing impaired at 1-877-486-2048. Another way to access reliable Medicare information is to visit MEDICARE.GOV, the official government website for Medicare. Be sure to always verify that the address extension is .gov, not .com, .usa or other extension. Unfortunately, there are a lot of copycat websites designed to confuse you.

If you would like a way to store all your health records in one secure location online, consider setting up an account with MyMedicare.gov. This is another reliable government website designed to give you and your designated health care providers quick, easy access to your medical records.

If you are looking for timely Medicare updates, visit www.facebook. com/medicare, the official Medicare facebook page.

Those with a Medicare Advantage Plan (Medicare Part C) instead of Original Medicare should call your insurance agent or your plan provider directly with any questions about your coverage, claims or other questions.

Remember, Medicare will not call you and ask for personal information including your credit card information, social security number or Medicare number. If someone calls and says they are from Medicare and asks for your personal information, hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

Got questions on life, health, Medicare Advantage Plans and Medicare Supplements? Call or email me. I will help you find a plan that works for you. My email is Lmutsko@ mutskoinsurance.com or call 440255-5700.