Shopping for Health Coverage? A Search Ad Could Send You to a Fake Site

Why is this warning timely?

A family may be helping two people look for coverage at once. A father with Medicare may be checking next year’s plan. An adult daughter who lost job-based coverage may be looking at Covered California. They use different systems, dates, and sources of help.

On September 28, 2026, the Federal Trade Commission, the federal consumer-protection agency, posted a warning about health-insurance impersonators. The FTC says these schemes increase during Medicare and Marketplace enrollment. Scammers may pay for ads, use web addresses that resemble government sites, or copy official-looking logos and language.

The FTC warns that a person who clicks may be sold a product that is not real health insurance or may expose information that can be used for medical identity theft. The alert describes a nationwide risk. It does not document a specific case in Little Saigon.

Check the address before entering information

The first search result is not necessarily the official one. A small “Ad” or “Sponsored” label means the result is paid advertising; it is not government approval.

For Medicare, type Medicare.gov into your browser. Medicare lists its national phone number as 1-800-MEDICARE, or 1-800-633-⁠4227. For California’s individual marketplace, type CoveredCA.com. Covered California’s official service number is 1-800-300-⁠1506.

Do not rely on a flag, seal, or the word “government” on a page. Check the exact domain name. When possible, type the address yourself instead of following an unfamiliar ad.

Medicare and Covered California enrollment are different

Medicare Open Enrollment runs from October 15 through December 7, 2026. People with Medicare can change Medicare Advantage coverage, change a Part D drug plan, or change how they receive Medicare. Changes received by December 7 generally take effect January 1.

Covered California’s enrollment period begins November 1. It is the state marketplace for individual coverage, not a Medicare enrollment portal. If a household has both a Medicare beneficiary and someone shopping for individual coverage, check each person through the right program.

For Medicare questions, Orange County HICAP offers free counseling and does not sell or endorse insurance products. Call the local number below to ask about appointments and language support.

Bolsa Bridge’s Medicare sign-up help tool can help you identify the right program and browse common questions based on the Medicare & You 2027 handbook. It does not replace free counseling from HICAP.

If you already clicked a suspicious page

Do not send more Medicare information, a Social Security number, bank details, or photos of documents. Do not pay a fee to “hold your place” or receive an insurance card before checking the company.

If you exposed Medicare information or suspect Medicare fraud, call 1-800-MEDICARE and ask what to do next. For Covered California, call 1-800-300-⁠1506. You can report suspected fraud to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

• Medicare: 1-800-633-⁠4227
• Covered California: 1-800-300-⁠1506
• Orange County HICAP: (714) 560-⁠0424
• Report fraud to the FTC: ReportFraud.ftc.gov

Enrollment season can make people feel rushed. Pausing to check the web address can help keep health information from going to the wrong place.