When you turn 65 (and likely many months or even years before), you will get a ton of Medicare-related mail.
We understand. It gets to the point where you don’t know what to read, what to trust, or how to stay sane!
You’ll get Medicare mail from the following places:
- Insurance companies
- Scammers (junk mail)
- Social Security Administration
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
- Marketing organizations (like agencies and brokerages)
It can be overwhelming – to say the least.
Medicare marketing rules do not allow insurance agents to make cold calls, go door to door, or to even approach you. So, the only way to get in touch with seniors turning 65 is by direct mail or advertising.
It can be difficult to tell which mail junk mail and which mail is important, but here are a few things to consider:
- If the mailer asks you for important personal information, like your credit card number or your social security number, it’s junk.
- If the mailer throws around words like “free,” it’s probably junk.
- If the mailer has large, colorful graphics that scream “open me!” – it’s likely junk.
- If the mailer has “PRESORTED” or “PRSRT STD” in the postage area, it’s probably junk mail.
- If the mailer has fake handwriting on it, it’s meant to look like it comes from a live person – but it’s really a telltale sign that it is junk mail.
So, if you mail in a reply card from someone’s mailer, you might be bombarded with phone calls and mail. They may sell your information to agents call centers to set appointments.
Tips to avoid some of the overflows:
Request removal from the Direct Mail Association. Go to www.dmachoice.org to be removed.
Register for the “National Do Not Call List” to avoid unwanted phone calls. Go to www.donotcall.gov or call toll-free at 1-888-382-1222 (TTY 1-866-290-4236).
Also, register for Texas “No Call Lists” at www.texasnocall.com or by calling 1-866-TXNOCAL(L) (1-866-896-6225).
You will need to call or give written permission for an Ashford Insurance Agent to contact you. Remember, Ashford Insurance charges you no fees, we are paid by the carrier (insurance company) you sign up with. Because we are Independent Insurance Agents, we can offer you many of the top Medicare Supplement carriers in Texas.
Photo by Edoardo Tommasini
