Hassle-Free Health Coverage: Other Good Questions

You should check with your state insurance department to see if there have been complaints about the insurance companies you're considering.

There are agents and companies whose lack of professionalism and ethics can cost consumers dearly. But there are also ways for you to protect yourself. Knowledge is power, and being aware of your coverages as well as your legal rights and responsibilities will help you avoid being taken advantage of when choosing a plan.

Insurance agents and companies may not claim that they represent the Medicare program, the Social Security Administration, or any government agency. They may not imply that the policy they are selling is guaranteed, approved or otherwise backed up by the government. If someone calls you claiming to have been authorized by the government to review your existing insurance program don't agree to an appointment.

Anyone who tells you that he or she is a counselor or adviser for any association of senior citizens, may in fact just be a licensed insurance agent trying to sell you a Medicare supplement insurance policy. Ask for credentials, the licenses they hold, and what kinds of products they are authorized to sell. A business card is not a license.

Never let an agent talk you into signing any form, application, or document in blank. When you are buying a policy, never pay your policy premium in cash or make out a check to the agent's personal account. The agent should make it clear that you have the option of paying your premiums directly to the insurance company.