Medicare, TRICARE, and FEDVIP plan users all can make coverage changes during open season, creating tempting targets for scam artists looking to separate you from your personal data or con you into paying for unneeded or nonexistent health services.

A recent Federal Trade Commission (FTC) alert highlighted one type of fraud: Scammers posing as Medicare representatives who contact beneficiaries and ask for personal data before they can send out a new Medicare card. Providing a Medicare number, a bank account, or any similar information to these callers could lead to identity theft or other adverse outcomes.

Check out these half-dozen tips to protect yourself while shopping for health coverage, courtesy of the FTC, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and other resources: