MediJunk

Medicare junkmail overload?

Have you noticed the whole world seems to know you’re eligible for Medicare, or are about to be?

Many Americans have come to realize just that. Seniors are being bombarded by “Medijunk”—Medicare direct mail, Medicare telephone solicitations, and email “informing” them about various senior health insurance plans on the market. Some seniors even get unsolicited door-to-door visits by agents offering to sell them health insurance plans.

It’s not only people of Medicare-eligibility age who get bombarded by Medicare junk mail and other forms of Medijunk. By now there probably aren’t many Americans of any age who haven’t had their fill of Medicare supplement or Medicare Advantage TV commercials. Of course, many direct mail fliers don’t discriminate on the basis of age, either, and those ads are almost as likely to find their way into a 30-year-old’s mailbox as a 65-year-old’s. And, as nearly every computer user knows too well, more often than not spam seems to know no bounds.

What can you do about Medijunk?

Be aware that certain activities by Medicare marketers are illegal. Federal law does not permit them to make unsolicited house visits or unrequested phone calls or emails pertaining to Medicare Advantage or Prescription Drug Plans. Customers must personally request information about Medicare Advantage or Prescription Drug Plans in order to receive information or phone calls pertaining to Medicare Advantage and Drug Plans.
Add your name to the federal government’s Do Not Call Registry by visiting www.donotcall.gov or phoning 1-888-382-1222. This isn’t foolproof but many marketers and businesses won’t take a chance by continuing to defy government regulations.
Reduce the risk of receiving Medijunk by thinking twice about filling out cards and forms asking questions about Medicare or healthcare in general. Some marketers try to entice people to provide personal information by promising gifts.
Remember that the federal government will never make an unsolicited call or visit to discuss your healthcare options. Always be aware that scammers will stop at nothing to gain your confidence.

If you suspect misrepresentation or fraud, don’t hesitate to report any suspected illegal activities by Medijunk marketers to your state’s insurance commission or Medicare.gov.

Is the government doing everything in its power to reduce Medijunk?

Well, not completely. There’s one federal agency that seems to be doing everything in its power to increase the volume of Medijunk.

The United States Postal Service, as people in every state know, is losing billions of dollars a year. As a result, the USPS has been striking deals with businesses and marketers across the country in an effort to increase the volume of junk mail. According the The New York Times, in 2011 the USPS earned $17 billion by delivering about 84 billion pieces of junk mail to Americans’ mailboxes. That averages out to about one piece of junk mail per weekday for every American, regardless of age—and if the USPS gets its way, that’s likely to increase. Of course, most junk mail has nothing to do with healthcare options—but lately it seems that more and more of it does.

The conclusion? Thanks to the federal government, the amount of Medijunk sent your way is likely to decrease … or increase. Go figure.

You won’t be getting any unsolicited calls from MedicareMall, but if you’d like the best advice from the most dedicated licensed and bonded healthcare professionals, give MedicareMall a call toll-free at (877) 413-1556.

What are you doing to minimize or manage your Medijunk? Please leave a comment below.