Federal Investigation into Medicare Advantage Marketing Practices

The Connecticut Insurance Department has been notified that the U.S. Department of Justice has filed a complaint in federal court against three national health insurers and three insurance brokers in connection with the sale of Medicare Advantage plans.

The complaint alleges that, between 2016 and 2021, these insurers paid improper incentives to brokers related to the sale of Medicare Advantage plans and that these brokers steered individuals into plans based on compensation instead of the individual's specific needs.

Medicare Advantage plans are regulated at the federal level by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The Connecticut Insurance Department does not have regulatory authority over Medicare Advantage plans or sales processes.

If you are enrolled in or considering a Medicare Advantage plan, here are a few important tips:

• Be cautious of aggressive sales tactics. No one should pressure you to choose a plan.
• Evaluate plans offered by a variety of insurance companies based on your health needs, not just advertising or broker recommendations.
• Use Medicare’s official resources on the Medicare website or call 1-800-MEDICARE for plan comparisons.
• Report suspicious marketing behavior to 1-800-MEDICARE or the Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP).
• Connecticut residents can also reach out to CHOICES, the state's free Medicare counseling program, at 1-800-994-9422, or the Office of the Healthcare Advocate (OHA) at 1-866-466-4446 for assistance.

Consumers with questions or concerns about Medicare Advantage should contact 1-800-MEDICARE or visit the Medicare website.

The Connecticut Insurance Department will continue to monitor developments and share relevant updates as appropriate.

For questions about other types of insurance regulated at the state level, please contact our Consumer Affairs team at (860) 297-3900 or insurance@ct.gov.