FTC Warns of Open Enrollment Health Insurance Scams — How to Reach the Real Medicare and HealthCare.gov Sites
Medicare open enrollment starts October 15 and Marketplace enrollment starts November 1. The FTC's September 28 alert says scammers pay to appear at the top of search results — here's the check it recommends before you enter any personal information.
Every fall, millions of people search for something like "Medicare plans 2027" or "health insurance enrollment" and click whichever result appears first. On September 28, 2026, the Federal Trade Commission published a consumer alert about exactly that moment: ahead of open enrollment, it warned that "scammers and dishonest businesses sometimes pay to appear at the top" of search results.
What the FTC alert says
The alert, written by FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection staff, covers both Medicare and Marketplace (HealthCare.gov) enrollment. Its core points:
- Paid results can sit above the real site. Scam operators and misleading sellers use paid search ads and websites made to look like government sites. The FTC's stated risks include paying for a fake or misleading plan and medical identity theft.
- Go to the official site directly. The FTC says to type the official address yourself rather than clicking an ad: Medicare.gov (or 800-633-4227) for Medicare, and HealthCare.gov (or 800-318-2596) for Marketplace plans.
- Check for "Ad" or "Sponsored" labels and scroll past those results.
- Check the ending of the web address. Official federal sites end in .gov.
- Free, independent help exists. State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIP) and Senior Medicare Patrol offer free help comparing plans.
The dates worth knowing
Scams cluster around deadlines, so it helps to know the real ones:
- Medicare Open Enrollment Period: October 15 to December 7, per Medicare.gov. Coverage changes take effect January 1.
- Marketplace open enrollment: November 1 to January 15, per HealthCare.gov. To have coverage start January 1, HealthCare.gov lists December 15 as the last day to enroll or change plans (and to make the first premium payment). Enrolling December 16 to January 15 means coverage starting February 1.
Any message telling you that you must act "today" or lose coverage before those dates should be checked against the official sites rather than the message itself. State-run marketplaces set their own calendars, so if your state runs its own exchange, confirm the dates there.
A three-step check before you enter personal information
- Start from the address, not the search results. Type medicare.gov or healthcare.gov into your browser's address bar. If you use a search engine anyway, skip results labeled "Ad" or "Sponsored."
- Read the full web address. A real federal site ends in .gov right before the first single slash. Addresses like a .com or .org with "medicare" or "healthcare" in the name are not government sites, even if the page uses a logo or flag.
- Get phone numbers from the official site. If you need to call, use the number listed on Medicare.gov or HealthCare.gov, not one shown in an ad or a text.
Where this fits with other verification habits
This is the same habit we've written about in other corners of personal finance: a bill-pay search ad that made a third party look like the biller, a fake fraud alert styled as your bank, and checking whether an insurance agent's license is real. In each case, the reliable check comes from a source you choose — a web address you type, a public license lookup — rather than one the seller controls.
Note the difference between an impersonation scam and a licensed agent or broker who advertises online. The second is legal and common; if you work with one, the licensing lookup linked above is the way to confirm the person is who they say they are.
If you've already shared information
If you entered personal details or paid on a site you now doubt, the FTC's alert points to ReportFraud.ftc.gov and your state attorney general for reporting. For Medicare-specific fraud, contact Medicare through Medicare.gov or 800-633-4227. Contact your card issuer if you paid by card, and check your Medicare or insurer statements for services you don't recognize.
This is a plain-language summary of a public FTC consumer alert and official enrollment dates, not insurance, medical, or legal advice. ClearValue Money doesn't sell health insurance or enroll anyone in a plan; for plan comparisons, use the official sites and free help named above.
Frequently asked
When is open enrollment for Medicare and the Marketplace?
Per Medicare.gov, the Medicare Open Enrollment Period runs October 15 to December 7. Per HealthCare.gov's dates page, Marketplace open enrollment runs November 1 to January 15, with December 15 the last day to enroll or change plans for coverage starting January 1. State-run marketplaces can set their own dates, so check your state's exchange if you don't use HealthCare.gov.
What are the official phone numbers the FTC points to?
The FTC's alert lists 1-800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227) for Medicare and 800-318-2596 for HealthCare.gov Marketplace plans. Use numbers you look up on the official .gov site or that are printed on your Medicare card materials rather than a number from an ad.
Is every search ad for health insurance a scam?
No. The FTC's wording is that scammers and dishonest businesses "sometimes" pay to appear at the top of search results. Licensed agents and brokers advertise legitimately too. The point of the check is that a paid position doesn't tell you who is behind the page — the web address does.
Where can I get free help comparing plans?
The FTC alert names State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIP) and Senior Medicare Patrol as sources of free help. You can find your state's SHIP through Medicare.gov.
Where do I report a suspected health insurance scam?
The FTC recommends reporting at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to your state attorney general. For Medicare-specific fraud, you can also use Medicare.gov or call 800-633-4227.
Sources
The named, dated public references below back the points made above. Rules and guidance change; confirm the current version with the source before you rely on it.
- Federal Trade Commission — What to know ahead of Open Enrollment to avoid health insurance scams (September 28, 2026)
- Medicare — Joining a plan (Open Enrollment Period: October 15–December 7) — Medicare.gov (CMS)
- HealthCare.gov — Key dates and deadlines — HealthCare.gov (CMS)
- Report fraud to the FTC — Federal Trade Commission
The standard behind this
Everything here traces back to one published editorial standard — how we source, score, and disclose across the family.
Get an email when we publish new trust coverage.
We're building out the trust shelf. We'll email you the moment new coverage lands — no checking back.
More on trust
- Trump Accounts Auto-Enrollment Is Done — How to Tell a Real Treasury Message From a Scam
Treasury announced on October 1 that automatic enrollment for Trump Accounts is complete. Any big federal rollout draws impersonators — here are the official channels Treasury lists, and the checks the FTC recommends before you click.
- The FTC Sent $23.8 Million to Grubhub Drivers and Diners — Here's the Check-Cashing Deadline and How to Verify Yours
The FTC mailed refund checks to 640,038 Grubhub drivers and diners starting mid-August 2026. Checks must be cashed within 90 days — here's the real deadline and how to tell a genuine payment from a scam.
- The FTC Wants to Know If Ad Tools Are Fueling Impersonation Scams
The FTC opened comment on updating its impersonation rule over platform ad tools tied to scam losses. Here's what's under review, and what hasn't changed yet.