Scams to know
Medicare and health insurance scam calls
"Hi, I'm calling from Medicare. You're eligible for a free genetic cancer screening, fully covered. I just need to confirm your Medicare number." The test isn't free and the caller isn't from Medicare. Your Medicare number is what they're after, because it can be used to bill Medicare for things you never needed.
The common scripts
These are typical pitches, paraphrased (illustrative only):
- The new card: "Medicare is sending out new plastic cards with a chip. To get yours, verify your Medicare number and bank details." Your Medicare card is free, and you never have to pay for one.
- Free genetic or DNA tests: a cheek swab kit for cancer or heart risk, "covered 100% by Medicare". The government watchdog for Medicare, the HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG), warns that these offers are used to collect Medicare numbers for fraudulent billing, and that if Medicare denies the claim, you could be left with a bill for the full cost of the test.
- Free braces and equipment: back, knee or wrist braces, or diabetic supplies, shipped to you whether you want them or not, and billed to Medicare.
- "Extra benefits" and "giveback" offers: money back on your Social Security, a grocery card, or "benefits you're missing", if you just confirm your details.
- The plan review: during open enrollment, a caller says your plan is ending or your benefits are expiring and pushes you to switch today.
- Health insurance robocalls: for people under 65, "$0 health plans" or "government-subsidized coverage" calls that really want your personal information or sign you up for a plan you didn't choose.
What Medicare and plans won't do
Medicare.gov says Medicare won't call you to sell you anything, and won't visit your home. Medicare may call in limited cases, for example when returning a call you made or following up on a report you filed. Medicare plans, and the agents and brokers who sell them, are also bound by marketing rules. They can't:
- call or text you unless you're already a member or you gave them permission;
- come to your home uninvited to sell you a plan;
- ask for your bank account or credit card number just to give you a quote;
- ask you to pay over the phone or online (the plan must send you a bill);
- offer cash, gifts worth more than $15 or free meals to get you to join.
Red flags
- Anything "free" that needs your Medicare number first.
- A test kit or medical equipment your own doctor didn't order.
- Pressure to decide on the call, or a warning that you'll "lose coverage" today.
- A caller who says they're "from Medicare" while selling a specific plan.
- Caller ID that shows "Medicare" or a government-sounding name (caller ID can be faked).
Protect your Medicare number
Treat it like a credit card number. Medicare.gov advises giving your Medicare card and number only to your doctors and people who should have it, such as your insurer. Check every Medicare Summary Notice or plan Explanation of Benefits, or your Medicare.gov account, for tests, equipment or visits you didn't get. If a package of braces or a test kit shows up that you didn't order, don't use it. Refuse it or report it.
If you already gave your number
- Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227, TTY 1-877-486-2048), explain what happened, and ask whether you should get a new Medicare Number.
- Watch your Medicare statements closely for the next few months.
- If you also gave your Social Security number or bank details, contact your bank and visit IdentityTheft.gov for a recovery plan.
Shared bank or card details? Follow our checklist for what to do if you've been scammed.
Where to report Medicare fraud
- 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) for suspected Medicare fraud.
- HHS Office of Inspector General: 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477) or oig.hhs.gov.
- Medicare Advantage or drug plan members: the Investigations Medicare Drug Integrity Contractor (I-MEDIC) at 1-877-7SAFERX (1-877-772-3379).
- Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP): free local help with spotting and reporting fraud, at 1-877-808-2468.
- Unwanted sales calls: the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and the FCC at consumercomplaints.fcc.gov.
On ShadyCall you can see whether a number is known for medical scam calls or health insurance robocalls, along with FTC and FCC complaints filed about it.