Florida Blue warns of scam calls

Florida Blue is notifying consumers of automated open enrollment calls that claim to offer medical plans from insurers including “Blue Cross.”

“These calls are not from Florida Blue or anyone representing us,” the company said in a news release.

The company offered the following tips about recognizing unauthorized calls about Florida Blue:

■ Many of these calls refer to either “Blue Cross” or “Blue Cross and Blue Shield.” Authorized agents will only refer to us as “Florida Blue” and not any of these other variations.

■ Some of the calls claim to be offering plans from Florida Blue, Blue Cross, or Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and other health insurance companies. Florida Blue does not make calls to members offering other health plan products. If the caller is offering plans from multiple insurance companies, it’s an unauthorized call.

This is how Florida Blue representatives you:

■ Florida Blue and those calling on our behalf will identify themselves, let members know the reason for the call, and ask for certain information, such as a birthdate, to ensure we are speaking with the right person.

■ We will never require members to give us financial or banking information or ask for full social security numbers over the phone.

■ If the call doesn’t seem quite right, consumers should hang up and call us contact back at the number they traditionally use to reach their Florida Blue agent or the toll-free number on the back of their membership card.

Never offer your full social security number or let anyone pressure you into giving them your financial or banking information, regardless of who they say they are, the company advised.