THE SCAM
The Medicare search ad that isn't Medicare.
Open Enrollment is almost here, and so are the fake ads. Medicare's window runs October 15 to December 7, and the Marketplace window on HealthCare.gov runs November 1 to January 15 — the FTC says this is exactly when health insurance scams pick up.
Here is how this one works. You search online for Medicare or a new health plan and click the top result. That top result is not always the real government site. Scammers and dishonest sellers pay to sit at the very top of the results, using web addresses that look almost like Medicare.gov or HealthCare.gov, plus official-looking logos and keywords.
If you call the number or follow the link in that ad, you can end up paying for a plan that is not real health insurance at all — or handing over personal details that lead to medical identity theft.
THE RED FLAG
The first result is not automatically the official one. That is the whole trick.
Look for the small 'Ad' or 'Sponsored' label next to a result, and read the web address letter by letter before you click. A real U.S. government health site ends in .gov. A look-alike address, an official-looking logo pasted onto a sales page, or a phone number that only appears inside an ad are all reasons to stop.
Pressure is the second tell. If the page or the person on the phone pushes you to sign up right now, before you can compare anything, that urgency is doing the scammer's work for them.
THE RULE
Never get to Medicare or the Marketplace through a search ad. Type the address yourself every time: Medicare.gov for Medicare (or call 800-633-4227), and HealthCare.gov to compare Marketplace plans (or call 800-318-2596).
Slow down, scroll past the paid results, and check that the address ends in .gov before you enter anything or call anyone. If you need help comparing plans, your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) or local Senior Medicare Patrol can walk you through it for free. Marketplace shoppers can also use the 'Find Local Help' tool on HealthCare.gov.
If you think you found a health insurance scam, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If it involves Medicare, you can also report it at Medicare.gov or by calling 800-633-4227.
(Source: FTC consumer alert, September 28, 2026)
SIGN-OFF
That's today's red flag. One scam, one red flag, one rule — pass it to someone who clicks first and asks questions later.
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