By Susan Jaffe | Sept.13, 2013 | KAISER HEALTH NEWS  in collaboration with 

After reassuring seniors that Medicare is not part of the new health insurance marketplaces, administration officials have a warning for anyone who may have other ideas: selling marketplace coverage to people who have Medicare is illegal.

Federal officials are eager to get the word out that seniors and disabled individuals enrolled in Medicare Part A — which covers hospitalization and limited nursing home care and is free for most beneficiaries – do not need to buy a marketplace plan, because they are already meeting the insurance requirements.

And no one needs to sell them one, either, according to information on a new “Medicare & the Marketplace” government webpage and in a “frequently asked questions” flyer officials recently distributed to Medicare counselors and other seniors advocates. MORE