Every fall, millions of Americans pick a health plan for the next year. Scammers know the dates too. In September 2026 the Federal Trade Commission published a new warning about fake ads and look-alike websites that pose as the official enrollment sites.
The official dates
| Program | Open Enrollment | Official site |
|---|---|---|
| Medicare | October 15 to December 7, 2026 | Medicare.gov |
| ACA Marketplace (HealthCare.gov) | November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027 in most states | HealthCare.gov |
On HealthCare.gov, signing up by December 15, 2026 means coverage starts January 1, 2027. A few states that run their own marketplace use different deadlines, so check your state’s site.
How the scam works
According to the FTC, the most common trick starts with a search:
- Scammers pay to appear at the top of search results. Their ads use words like “Medicare” or “Obamacare”, official-looking logos and web addresses that look almost like the government sites.
- You click the ad or call the number in it. You land on a site or a call center that feels official but is not.
- You end up with the wrong thing. At best, a plan that is not real health insurance. At worst, you hand over your Medicare or Social Security number and become a victim of medical identity theft.
The same playbook shows up in your inbox: emails and texts saying your “coverage will end”, that you “qualify for a $0 plan” or that you must “confirm your Medicare card”, each with a link to a look-alike site.
The red flags
- The result is marked “Ad” or “Sponsored”.
- The web address does not end in .gov.
- The site or caller pressures you to decide today.
- Someone asks for your Medicare, Social Security or bank number to “check eligibility”.
- An unexpected email or text about your coverage, with a link to click.
The safe way to sign up
- Type the address yourself: Medicare.gov or HealthCare.gov. Do not click ads, and scroll past sponsored results.
- Use the official phone numbers: Medicare at 1-800-633-4227, the Marketplace at 1-800-318-2596.
- Get free, unbiased help: your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (shiphelp.org), Senior Medicare Patrol (smpresource.org), or Find Local Help on HealthCare.gov.
- Never give your Medicare or Social Security number to someone who contacted you first.
If you think you were scammed
- Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- Report it to your state attorney general.
- For Medicare-related scams, call 1-800-633-4227 or report at Medicare.gov.
- If you shared your Social Security number, consider a free credit freeze with the three credit bureaus.
Keep your real email off quote lists
Many “compare health plans” sites are lead generators: you type your email to see prices, and your address is sold to agents and call centers. That is how one search turns into weeks of calls and emails, some of them scams.
If you only want to look at prices, use a temporary email address for the quote form and keep your real one for the plan you actually choose. When you sign up on Medicare.gov or HealthCare.gov, use your real email so you get your official notices. Our guide to signing up for free trials without spam uses the same idea.
Sources
- Federal Trade Commission, What to know ahead of Open Enrollment to avoid health insurance scams, September 28, 2026.
- Medicare.gov, Joining a plan (Open Enrollment October 15 to December 7).
- HealthCare.gov, Dates and deadlines (starts November 1; December 15 for coverage from January 1).
- Healthcare Insider, When is Open Enrollment for health insurance? 2027 dates (January 15 end date and state deadlines).