My MIL called me yesterday to tell me that she was afraid that she would no longer be able to get Medicaid because she had just received a call saying that it was going to be changed. After asking MIL several more questions, I was able to figure out that it had been a telemarketer who called her using a scare tactic to get her to agree to purchase their insurance. Ultimately, MIL hung up on the telemarketer, but the more she thought about it, the more nervous she got.

I did some research, but the proposed changes haven't even been made final and they only apply to recipients living in nursing homes and foster care homes. She lives alone, and her only income is Social Security, and she has both Medicare and Medicaid, so whatever Medicare won't pick up, Medicaid will.

It totally peeves me that there are people who prey on our seasoned citizens in order to exploit their good will and their fears. I registered MIL's phone number on the Do Not Call Registry today. It is good until 2012. I hope that takes care of it.

By Dawnk777 on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 04:33 pm:

I'm so sorry. It is awful, that that people do that, and scare people. It's good she hung up on them.

By Ginny~moderator on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 06:18 pm:

Lisa, see if your state also has a do not call registry. In Pennsylvania, the fine for calling people on the do not call registry is double if the person called is over 55.

You might suggest to your MIL that she tell anyone who calls about insurance or any money details that "my son (or dil) manages all of that for me, so there is no point in talking to me about it. If this is important, send me a letter and I will give it to my son(dil).". If it is a legitimate call about an insurance matter that relates to your mother, that caller will send a letter.

By Mrsheidi on Thursday, April 26, 2007 - 07:26 pm:

Senior citizens are prime candidates for that...it's so sad! I don't blame you for being mad. My mother is in a nursing home and she used to get calls *in her nursing home room* and people told her that they were signing her up for a magazine subscription,etc. I finally had to take the phone. It was ridiculous.

By Cocoabutter on Friday, April 27, 2007 - 12:33 am:

I checked with my state's website, and when we register with the federal registry, we are automatically signed up for the state registry. I didn't find any information with regard to protecting seniors, though.