Let's talk about junk mail... or is it?

I was delighted to spend the long weekend early this month traveling. I find the short, cold winter days in the Northeast draining. So a friend and I took off for a warm weather destination: Iceland! We left at -8°F with two feet of snow on the ground. Reikjavik was in the low to mid-forties, with no snow in sight. It’s just wrong, and the Icelanders agreed.

Now that I’m back, I had to work through the pile of mail that accumulated over the last few days. What struck me, as a Woman of a Certain Age, was the sheer number of things pretending to be Medicare and retirement related. Let’s take a moment to dig into the ones you care about and the ones you don’t.

Anything that’s really important from the government will come in a Social Security Administration or Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services envelope. Not the right logo? It’s not official.

By the way, the government doesn’t call you. Phone calls pretending to be from SSA or Medicare are fraud. Hang up or consider reporting them to the authorities.

You may receive a flashy postcard or letter inviting you to dine at a swanky, nearby restaurant. The headline is usually about maximizing social security income and savings in retirement. These mailings are from financial planners who want you as a client.

I think financial planners are a great idea for most of us who don’t specialize in studying the stock market or planning for taxes. But be aware that financial planners get paid either by commissions on transactions (you buy or sell a stock or bond) or as a percentage of the money they manage for you.

The planner needs you to sign paperwork so they can work with you. Before you sign up with the event presenter, consider asking your friends and families for recommendations for great financial planners. Know your options.

Enjoy the meal and get the information as you choose, but remember: They are trying to sell their services to you. You aren’t obligated to buy anything. You aren’t obligated to sign anything. They do have the right to keep emailing you stuff.

If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, you’re allowed to change to another one through March 31 if you aren’t satisfied with the choice you made in the fall. This time is called the Medicare Open Enrollment Period, as opposed to Annual Enrollment late last year. If your card or letter talks about an insurance plan or an insurance agent (whom you may or may not know), they are trying to get you to switch.

Keep in mind agents get paid by insurers when you buy. You can safely ignore these if you like the coverage you have. Your coverage will not change unless you agree to or sign something.

Are other “mysteries of healthcare” showing up in your mailbox? Need help understanding or taking the next step forward? Comment below! I’d love to hear from you.