Searching for health insurance? Keep scrolling to avoid government impersonators
Scammers pose as government health insurance agencies in search results and ads to trick people into giving up personal information or money.
How it works
When you search online for health insurance or Medicare, fake government websites appear at the top of results or in ads. They look like official sites but are run by scammers. You enter your personal details thinking you are applying for real coverage, but instead the scammers steal your information or charge you fees for fake plans.
Red flags to watch for
- Search result or ad that claims to be Medicare or government health program
- Website URL does not match the real government agency address
- You are asked to pay an upfront fee for coverage information
- Site asks for full Social Security number before showing plan options
- Urgency to enroll immediately or lose eligibility
What to do
Do not click the first search result without checking the web address. Type the official government website address directly into your browser (for Medicare, go to Medicare.gov). If you use a search engine, look for the small text saying 'Ad' or 'Sponsored' and skip those results. Call 1-800-MEDICARE to verify any site or to enroll in a real plan.
If this reached you
Source: FTC . Scam Sentinel summarizes official guidance in plain language; it is a decision aid, not a guarantee.