Medicare helps millions of Americans 65 and over and those with qualified disabilities and ESRD access the healthcare they need. Unfortunately, it also attracts scammers who are looking to take advantage of unsuspecting beneficiaries. One of the most common tools scammers use is the phone. In this post, we discuss some of the most common Medicare phone scams and how to avoid them.
Anyone on Medicare or helping someone who is should know the red flags to help guard against fraud.
Common Medicare Phone Scams
“We’re issuing you a new Medicare card”
Scammers may call claiming that Medicare is sending out new cards (often with a chip or updated feature), and that they just need to “verify” your Medicare number or Social Security number.
In reality, some individuals were issued new Medicare cards but no one called beneficiaries on the phone; click here for more details.
Important: Medicare will never call you to ask for personal information out of the blue. If there were truly a new card, you’d get a letter or notice in the mail.
“You qualify for free medical equipment”
This one often targets people with diabetes or chronic pain. The caller might offer free back braces, knee braces, or glucose monitors in exchange for your Medicare number.
In reality: These “free” items are often billed to Medicare fraudulently. You could end up responsible for the cost or even flagged for abuse of your benefits.
Fake Medicare representatives
Some scammers impersonate Medicare employees or contractors and use urgent language to scare you: “Your benefits will be cut off” or “We detected suspicious activity.”
Remember: Medicare officials do not call unsolicited to threaten or pressure you. Real communication will be by mail, and you can verify legitimacy before responding.
COVID-19 test scams
During the pandemic (and even now), scammers offered free COVID tests or vaccines in exchange for your Medicare info. These have since evolved into offers for “new virus screenings” or “preventive health checkups.”
Keep in mind: While COVID tests and vaccines are covered by Medicare, they do not require phone enrollment or any payment up front.
“We can lower your Medicare premiums”
Some calls promise to reduce your monthly Medicare costs or enroll you in a “better” plan; usually with limited information and a high-pressure sales pitch. Learn more about these Medicare scams.
Important: Legitimate plan changes should go through licensed agents or official Medicare channels, not someone who refuses to send information in writing or insists on getting personal data over the phone.
How to Protect Yourself
- Hang up on unsolicited calls. If it feels fishy, it probably is.
- Never give out your Medicare number, Social Security number, or banking information over the phone; unless you initiated the call to a trusted number.
- Contact your Medicare agent or use the 1-800-MEDICARE number or visit medicare.gov if you have questions or are unsure about something.
- Check your Medicare Summary Notices (MSNs) regularly to spot unfamiliar charges.
- Report scams to Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE or to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
Remember
Scammers are smart and persistent but with a little awareness, you can stay one step ahead of them. Medicare will never call you out of the blue to ask for your information, and anything that sounds too good to be true usually is.
Know the red flags, trust your instincts, and share this information with friends and loved ones. A quick heads-up could prevent someone you care about from falling victim to fraud.
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