Medicare Scams: What to Know Before You Share Your Number

Your Medicare number is valuable to thieves. Real Medicare does not cold call to sell you something.

Step by step

1. Guard your card. Treat it like a credit card.
2. Hang up on offers. Free braces and tests.
3. Check your statements. Look for services you did not receive.
4. Use trusted helpers. Your State Health Insurance Assistance Program is free.
5. Report fraud. Call the Medicare line.

What to expect

Expect calls about free medical equipment, genetic tests or a new Medicare card, often during open enrollment. Callers ask for your Medicare number, which they use to bill for services you never received.

Mistakes to avoid

Do not give out your number to anyone who contacted you. Do not accept free items that require your number. Do not ignore statements showing services you did not get.

A good next step

Review your statements monthly and call the official Medicare line or your state health insurance program with questions.

Common Medicare scams

1. Free equipment offers. Calls offering free braces, tests or devices that ask for your Medicare number.
2. New card scams. Callers say you must pay for or "activate" a new card.
3. Genetic test kits. Mailed kits billed to Medicare for tests you did not need.
4. Plan switching. Callers pressure you to change plans during open enrollment.
5. Phony refunds. Callers say Medicare owes you a refund and ask for bank details.

How to protect your number

• Treat your Medicare number like a bank account number.
• Share it only with doctors, pharmacies and other trusted providers.
• Never give it to someone who called you or knocked on your door.
• Shred old mail that includes your number.
• Check statements for services you did not receive.

Where to get help

• Call the official Medicare phone line, 1-800-MEDICARE, if you think your number was misused.
• Your State Health Insurance Assistance Program offers free, unbiased counseling.
• Report suspected fraud through the Medicare fraud reporting channels.
• Ask a family member to look over your statements with you.

What a real call from Medicare looks like

• Medicare may call you if you called first, left a message, or asked for a call back. It does not cold-call to sell you something.
• Medicare will not threaten to cancel your coverage unless you give a number or pay a fee.
• Medicare does not charge to issue a new card. Cards are mailed free.
• Plan salespeople may only call you if you gave permission, and during open enrollment you can get many legitimate marketing calls, so ask for written information and verify before you decide.

Three scams, three scripts

1. The new card call. "Your Medicare card is being replaced. We just need to confirm your number and bank account to send it." The truth: new cards cost nothing and no one needs your bank account to mail one.
2. The free test or brace. "Medicare covers a free genetic test or back brace. Give us your number and we will ship it." The truth: your number is then used to bill Medicare for items you did not need. This is fraud even when something arrives.
3. The plan switch. "Act today or your benefits end." The truth: there is no such deadline from a cold caller. Use official enrollment periods and the Medicare website.

Protect your number

• Treat your Medicare number like a Social Security number.
• Keep your card at home unless you need it for an appointment.
• Check every Medicare Summary Notice or online statement for services you did not receive.
• Shred old mail and statements.
• Never share your number with a caller, a door knocker or someone at a health fair offering free items.

If you think you shared it

1. Call 1-800-MEDICARE. Report what happened and ask about replacing your number if needed.
2. Review your claims. Look for items you did not get.
3. Contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program. They offer free help and know local scams.
4. Report it. Report to the FTC and the Senior Medicare Patrol program in your state.
5. Watch your accounts. Check your bank and credit for unusual activity.

A prompt you can copy

Common questions

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