OCI cautions Medicare consumers

Office of the Commissioner of Insurance
Spring 2008 - Crime Alert Bulletin

Madison, WI—Wisconsin residents are cautioned by the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI) to question telephone calls from any individuals who represent that they work for Medicare, or that an individual from Medicare wants to meet with them.

Medicare does not telephone Medicare beneficiaries to set up appointments to explain the changes in the Medicare program. Medicare does not issue badges to its employees for identification purposes. In many instances, individuals making these calls are setting up appointments for insurance agents to sell Medicare Advantage or prescription drug plans or other types of insurance policies.

Consumers who have contact with salespersons claiming to work for Medicare or salespersons attempting to sell insurance using high pressure tactics should contact the OCI. The OCI can instruct consumers on how to file a written complaint with the office. Consumers who are having problems getting these individuals to leave their homes should contact their local law enforcement immediately.

A complaint form can be found online at http://oci.wi.gov/com_form.htm and consumers may contact the OCI by telephone at 1-800-236-8517.

Created by the Legislature in 1871, Wisconsin's Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI) was vested with broad powers to ensure that the insurance industry responsibly and adequately met the insurance needs of Wisconsin citizens. Today, OCI's mission is to lead the way in informing and protecting the public and responding to its insurance needs.