Privacy Policy
Effective Date: 23 April 2025
1. Who We Are
MedicareAnswersGal (“we,” “our,” “us”) operates the website https://medicareanswersgal.com (including any staging or sub-domains). We help visitors understand their Medicare options and connect with licensed agents.
2. Personal Data We Collect & Why
2.1 Information You Provide Directly
- Comments & Posts. When you leave a comment or submit a post, we collect the data shown in the form, your IP address, and browser user-agent string to help detect spam.
- Contact / Quote Forms. Our forms may request your name, phone, email, ZIP code, date of birth, Medicare eligibility, and any additional notes you choose to share. We use this information to respond to your inquiry, schedule consultations, and match you with a licensed Medicare agent.
- Account Registration. If you create an account, we collect the credentials and profile details you supply.
- Media Uploads. If you upload images, avoid embedding location data (EXIF GPS). Visitors can download and extract such data from publicly posted images.
2.2 Information We Collect Automatically
- Cookies & Similar Technologies. We use cookies to:
- Remember your preferences (e.g., saved form fields, login status).
- Provide security (e.g., prevent fraudulent log-ins).
- Measure site performance and improve our content.
- Analytics Data. We use Google Analytics and similar tools to collect aggregated statistics (browser type, pages visited, referring URLs, time spent on pages). Analytics cookies may last up to 26 months unless you clear them sooner.
- Embedded Content. Articles may include embedded videos, maps, or social media widgets. Embedded content behaves exactly as if you visited the source site, which may collect its own cookies and tracking data.
3. Legal Bases for Processing (EEA/UK Visitors)
We process personal data under the following lawful bases:
- Consent – when you voluntarily submit information or agree to marketing communications.
- Contract – to provide requested services or information.
- Legitimate Interests – to maintain site security, improve content, or market similar services, balanced against your rights.
- Legal Obligation – to comply with laws and regulatory requirements.
4. How We Use Your Information
- Respond to inquiries or quote requests.
- Connect you with licensed Medicare agents who can assist you.
- Send educational or promotional emails (you may opt out at any time).
- Improve, test, and monitor the effectiveness of our website.
- Prevent fraud, spam, and other abuses.
5. Who We Share Your Data With
- Licensed Medicare Agents. Information you supply in quote or consultation forms is shared only with agents authorized to sell Medicare products in your state.
- Service Providers. We use reputable third-party vendors for hosting, email delivery, analytics, spam detection (e.g., Akismet), and CRM. They may process data on our behalf under strict confidentiality agreements.
- Legal & Compliance. We may disclose information if required by law or to protect our rights, property, or safety.
- Business Transfers. If we merge, sell, or reorganize, your data may transfer to the new owner subject to this Privacy Policy.
6. Cookie Details & Choices
You can control or delete cookies at any time through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect certain site features. For Google Analytics opt-out, visit tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.
7. Data Retention
- Comments. Comments and related metadata are stored indefinitely.
- Contact Form Submissions. Stored for up to 7 years (IRS record-keeping period) unless you request earlier deletion and no longer require the information.
- User Accounts. Profile data persists until you delete the account. Backups may survive for up to 90 days.
- Analytics. Aggregated data is kept for 26 months.
8. Your Rights
- Access. Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
- Correction. Ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete data.
- Deletion. Request erasure of your data, subject to legal obligations.
- Objection / Opt-Out. Opt out of marketing emails via the unsubscribe link or by contacting us.
- Portability. Receive your data in a machine-readable format.
- California Residents. You may exercise additional rights under the CCPA/CPRA (see §10).
Send requests to privacy@medicareanswersgal.com. We will verify your identity before fulfilling any request.
9. Security
We use HTTPS encryption, firewalls, access-control lists, routine malware screening, and staff training to safeguard data. No method is 100% secure; please use caution when sharing information online.
10. Notice for California Residents (CCPA/CPRA)
We do not sell or share your personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising. We disclose the following categories for business purposes: identifiers (name, email, IP), internet activity, and limited health-related information you voluntarily provide. You may designate an authorized agent to exercise your rights. We will not discriminate against you for exercising CCPA rights.
11. Children’s Privacy
Our services target adults age 18+. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us data, contact us immediately so we may delete it.
12. Third-Party Links
This site may link to external websites. We are not responsible for their content or privacy practices. Review the privacy statements of any site you visit.
13. Automated Decision Making & Profiling
We do not engage in automated decision making that produces legal or significant effects. Automated spam filters analyze comment content and metadata solely to block spam.
14. Updates to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy occasionally. Material changes will be posted on this page with a revised “Effective Date.” Continued use of the site after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
15. Contact Us
If you have questions about this policy or your personal data, reach us at:
- Email: karen@medicareanswersgal.com
- Phone: (310) 614-7533 (Mon–Fri 9 a.m.–5 p.m. ET)
