Should You Call Your Plans 800 Number For Service?
TL:DR (AKA Too Long, Didn’t Read. As the kids say!)
If you have no other options, yes.
If you work with local or even national brokerage, no
You’ve seen those Joe Namath commercials for years. That is a nationally run call center, that is more a marketing company than a Medicare agency or helpline. That company, Part ABC, and any of the other companies out there, are NOT affiliated with Medicare, Social Security, and/or Government programs. However, today, we’re not talking about agencies or brokerages themselves. We’re talking about the insurance company customer service number directly located on the back of your health insurance card.
There’s a ton of names used to describe the insurance companies “help desk”, but at the end of the day, they aren’t (usually) licensed agents. They can help answer the basics, transfer you to other departments, order you new ID cards, and that’s usually it. It’s more clerical work, than getting insurance based answers.
What we’ve seen with clients is usually when you call the 800 number, that’s when issues start. I have personally heard every type of story as to how or why someone made a mistake with their plan once getting on the phone, and I don’t think our clients are lying to us. I simply think they didn’t know any better. Once you’re on with your actual insurance carrier, they should be able to assist you smoothly, rarely is that the case. If they start to inquire about a new plan or make any comments that make your spidey senses tingle, hang up.
I won’t go into too much detail about what we’ve seen or heard, but I will be as blunt as humanly possible: IF YOU HAVE AN AGENT OR AGENCY THAT HANDLES YOUR MEDICARE HEALTH PLAN DIRECTLY, ALWAYS CONTACT THEM FIRST.
They know you, your situation, your history, and they should have records of it in terms of recent calls or emails. Going to the 800 number is great as a last resort, but never use it as your first line of defense. And certainly never give your information out to anyone that isn’t your direct insurance carrier that you currently have.
