How to spot a Medicare scam
Medicare scammers are busiest during Open Enrollment, October 15 through December 7, but they call, text, and email all year. The good news: a few simple rules catch almost all of them.
The golden rule
Medicare will not contact you out of the blue to sell you a plan, threaten to cancel your coverage, or ask for your Medicare number, Social Security number, or bank information. If someone does, it's a scam. Hang up or delete the message.
One thing that confuses people: insurance companies that sell Medicare Advantage and drug plans are not Medicare. They're allowed to call you if you gave them permission, for example on a form or a website. If you're not sure who's calling, hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE yourself.
Red flags
- "You need a new Medicare card." Real cards are free and mailed to you automatically. Anyone charging for a card, or offering a "plastic" or "gold" one, is a scammer.
- Free equipment or tests. Offers of free braces, genetic tests, or medical supplies are a common way to steal your Medicare number.
- Pressure and threats. "Act today or lose your benefits" is never how Medicare works. Real enrollment gives you weeks to decide.
- Links in unexpected texts or emails. Fake "Medicare kit" messages can lead to look-alike sites that capture your information.
- Calls selling next year's plans before October 1. Plans aren't allowed to advertise next year's coverage before then, so early, pushy calls are a warning sign.
What to do instead
- Hang up, then call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or the number on the back of your card.
- Treat your Medicare card like a credit card. Only share it with doctors and pharmacies you contacted.
- Check your Medicare Summary Notice (mailed every three months) or your plan's statement for services you never received.
- For free, unbiased help choosing a plan, contact your state's SHIP counseling program at shiphelp.org.
If you think you've been targeted
Report it to 1-800-MEDICARE and at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Your local Senior Medicare Patrol can also help you check for fraud and errors, for free: call 1-877-808-2468.
