EL PASO, Texas -- Health care officials warn elderly patients that HMOs are trying to talk some seniors into dropping their Medicare benefits.

April Benson, a marketer for Cloudview Home Health Agency, said she's come across dozens of patients who've fallen prey.

Benson said the patients were either talked into dropping Medicare and switching to an HMO or were switched to an HMO without their authorization.

She said that's a problem because she has realized in her line of work that what the HMOs cover is not extensive. For example, she said they cover little or no home health services, like physical therapy or skilled nursing.

"I don't think its ethical the way they're switching people over. They are doing it by phone. I received something in the mail by them that said call us, Medicare recommends you look into our services," said Benson.

Medicare will have open enrollment between Nov. 15 through Dec. 31. If you want to get your Medicare benefits back you can call within that time frame.