Beware of These Coronavirus Email Scams THEY’RE STILL AROUND!
Suspicious Links and Email Addresses During the past few months, people’s email inboxes have been littered with advertisements for fake coronavirus tests and cures, fake alerts from government agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and fake coronavirus updates. If you get an email containing an unusual link in your inbox, do not click on it — even if the email address looks legitimate. Scammers use links to spread malware on computers, which helps them get your personal information. Spelling and Grammar Mistakes This is usually a dead giveaway. While genuine, official updates about the coronavirus will be meticulously checked for spelling and grammar, scammers aren’t as careful. Missing periods, misspelled words, and wacky syntax errors are all hallmarks of scam emails. Make sure you carefully read any email you’re not sure about. If you can spot spelling and grammar mistakes, delete the email. Much like the coronavirus will remain in the American psyche long after cases and deaths have peaked, scammers will continue using it as a means to steal from honest, hardworking Americans. But, if we keep our guard up, we can make sure they get absolutely nothing from their efforts. whether or not switching plans may be necessary. We recommend using GoodRX.com to compare coverage for medication like Eliquis. However, none of this means that you’re doomed to Eliquis necessarily. Eliquis is an anticoagulant, which is used to treat many blood and heart-related conditions by thinning blood to prevent blood clots. There are many kinds of anticoagulants out there. If your doctor prescribes Eliquis, ask whether there are any other anticoagulants that they’d recommend or consider. Remember that being subjected to great financial stress due to one medication can be more detrimental to your health than using a slightly differently designed medication that performs the same action. Warfarin (brand names Coumadin and Jantoven) is inexpensive at $15 and can prevent clots in the veins, arteries, lungs, or heart. It is also covered by most Medicare and insurance plans. In short, no, Eliquis is not worth its full retail price. If you can get it for an affordable price, then do it! But there are many, many other anticoagulant options available, and you’ll thank yourself for doing a bit of research before taking the financial plunge for Eliquis.
While it seems like the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic might be behind us, that doesn’t mean we should let our guard down completely — especially when it comes to internet scams designed to prey
on the fear and uncertainty brought on by the pandemic. It’s no surprise that scammers have found ways to use the
coronavirus scare as an opportunity to steal personal information from the vulnerable. Fortunately, you can spot
coronavirus scammers using the same techniques that help identify otherwise run-of-the-mill phishing scams.
Requests for Personal Information When the federal government started distributing relief checks, several scammers sent out unsolicited emails, disguised as legitimate instructions, asking for personal information from people in order to receive their $1,200. Since many people have now received their checks, this particular scam may become less common, but always be suspicious of emails that ask for personal information, no matter the circumstances. Eliquis is the brand name for a prescription medication known as apixaban. It prevents serious blood clots from forming due to an irregular heartbeat and/or after knee or hip replacement surgery. Not all blood clots are made the same; apixaban is approved to treat certain types of blood clots and prevent them from forming again. It works by blocking certain clotting proteins in your blood. It works great, but here’s the catch: It’s incredibly expensive at nearly $565.89 retail price for 60 5-milligram tablets, and there aren’t any generic alternatives for the medication. If your first question is whether Medicare will cover it, the answer is yes. Almost 99% of Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans will cover Eliquis, although the copay varies widely depending on your plan and the coverage stage you’re in. Your copay could be anywhere between $8 to $541. But if you’re serious about taking Eliquis for your heart issues, then it still may be your best bet to look at your options there and consider
2 • OmahaInsuranceSolutions.com
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