Medicare Open Enrollment Scams — What to Watch For This Fall

Every fall, Medicare Open Enrollment runs from October 15 through December 7. It is the one window when seniors can switch Medicare Advantage plans, change prescription drug coverage, or return to Original Medicare. It is also the most dangerous time of year for Medicare-related scams.

Scammers know that during open enrollment, millions of seniors are actively thinking about their Medicare coverage. They exploit this by posing as Medicare representatives, insurance agents, and healthcare providers to steal personal information, enroll victims in unauthorized plans, and bill Medicare for services never rendered.

This guide covers the three most dangerous Medicare scams targeting seniors during the 2026 enrollment season and gives you concrete steps to protect yourself and the people you love.

Scam 1: Fake Medicare Representatives

The most common Medicare scam during open enrollment involves callers who claim to be from Medicare or the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). These calls have become increasingly sophisticated, and in 2026, many use AI-generated voices and spoofed caller IDs that display official-looking government phone numbers.

Here is what these fake Medicare calls typically sound like:

• "Hello, this is the Medicare Benefits Coordination Center. We're calling to make sure you're enrolled in the best plan for 2027. Can I verify your Medicare number to pull up your account?"
• "Your Medicare benefits are about to expire unless you re-enroll before the deadline. I need your Medicare Beneficiary Identifier to process your renewal."
• "Medicare is issuing new cards with enhanced security features. I need to verify your current card number so we can send you the replacement."
• "You're eligible for a $0 premium Medicare Advantage plan with additional dental and vision benefits. I just need your Medicare number to check your eligibility."

Every single one of these scenarios is a scam. The real Medicare program does not operate this way.

The goal of these calls is to obtain your Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) — the unique alphanumeric code on your red, white, and blue Medicare card. With this number, scammers can submit fraudulent claims to Medicare in your name, enroll you in plans you did not authorize, and steal your identity.

Scam 2: Plan Switching Scams

Not all Medicare scams come from obvious criminals. Some come from licensed insurance agents who engage in a practice known as "plan switching" or "churning." While these agents are technically real, their practices are fraudulent and can cost you thousands of dollars in unexpected medical expenses.

Here is how plan switching scams work:

A licensed insurance agent contacts you — often by phone, sometimes door-to-door, and increasingly through social media ads — and offers to review your current Medicare coverage. They may promise better benefits, lower premiums, or additional coverage for dental, vision, or hearing. What they do not tell you is that they earn a commission every time they switch you from one plan to another.

The agent may:

• Enroll you in a plan that does not cover your doctors. Your current specialists and primary care physician may be out of network in the new plan, forcing you to switch doctors or pay out-of-pocket rates.
• Switch you to a plan that does not cover your medications. Your current prescriptions may not be on the new plan's formulary, resulting in dramatically higher drug costs.
• Enroll you without your knowledge. Some agents submit enrollment applications using information obtained during the call, even if you did not explicitly agree to switch plans. You may not discover the switch until January when your new plan takes effect.
• Scope you for additional products. Once they have your trust and personal information, they may try to sell you supplemental insurance, final expense insurance, or annuities that you do not need.

Scam 3: Medicare Card Harvesting

Card harvesting is the most financially damaging Medicare scam, and it often goes undetected for months or even years. In this scam, criminals collect Medicare Beneficiary Identifiers from seniors and use them to bill Medicare for medical equipment, tests, and services that were never provided.

Card harvesting operations use multiple tactics to collect MBIs:

• Phone calls offering free medical equipment (back braces, knee braces, diabetic supplies) in exchange for your Medicare number to "check eligibility."
• Door-to-door visits from people claiming to be from Medicare, a doctor's office, or a medical supply company.
• Free health screenings at community centers, churches, and senior centers where attendees are asked to provide their Medicare information to receive "free" blood pressure checks, glucose tests, or bone density scans.
• Phishing emails and texts directing seniors to fake Medicare websites that collect their MBI and personal details.
• Social media ads promoting free medical supplies or benefits reviews that require your Medicare number.

Once scammers have your MBI, they submit claims to Medicare for expensive medical equipment and services. Medicare pays these claims, and the money goes to the scammer. Meanwhile, your Medicare account shows services you never received, which can affect your future coverage, create a false medical history, and trigger audits.

Medicare fraud costs the federal government an estimated $60 billion per year, and card harvesting is one of the primary methods. But the real victims are the seniors whose identities and medical histories are compromised.

How to Protect Yourself During Open Enrollment

Follow these rules during Medicare Open Enrollment to keep yourself safe:

1. Guard Your Medicare Card Like a Credit Card

Your Medicare Beneficiary Identifier is as valuable as your Social Security number. Never share it with anyone who contacts you unsolicited. Only provide it to your doctor's office, hospital, or pharmacy when you are receiving medical care — and only if you initiated the visit.

2. Initiate All Plan Changes Yourself

If you want to change your Medicare coverage, go directly to medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). You can also contact your local SHIP office for free, personalized counseling from trained volunteers who have no financial interest in which plan you choose.

3. Review Your Medicare Summary Notices

Medicare sends you a Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) every three months, listing all claims submitted in your name. Review every line. If you see a doctor you did not visit, a service you did not receive, or equipment you did not order, report it immediately. This is the earliest warning sign of card harvesting.

4. Never Pay for a Medicare Card

Your Medicare card is free. Medicare will never charge you for a new or replacement card. If anyone asks you to pay for a Medicare card — whether by credit card, gift card, or any other method — it is a scam.

5. Be Wary of "Free" Offers

Free genetic testing, free back braces, free diabetic supplies, free health screenings — these are all common lures used to harvest Medicare numbers. If something is offered for free and the only requirement is your Medicare number, it is almost certainly a scam. Check our Scam Library for details on Medicare scam calls and related fraud patterns.

6. Report Suspicious Activity

Report Medicare fraud to:

• HHS Office of Inspector General: 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477) or oig.hhs.gov
• Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP): 1-877-808-2468
• FTC: reportfraud.ftc.gov
• Your State Attorney General: Find contact information at naag.org

What to Do If You Have Been Scammed

If you believe your Medicare information has been compromised:

1. Call Medicare immediately at 1-800-MEDICARE to report the potential fraud and ask about getting a new MBI.
2. Place a fraud alert with the three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) since your Medicare information may be used for broader identity theft.
3. Review your Medicare Summary Notices for any claims you do not recognize and report them.
4. Contact the Senior Medicare Patrol in your state for one-on-one help navigating the fraud resolution process.
5. Consider a credit freeze if you shared your Social Security number along with your Medicare information. Our guide on how to freeze your credit walks you through the process step by step.
6. Report to the HHS OIG at 1-800-HHS-TIPS to help law enforcement track and shut down the scammers.

Talk to Your Parents About Medicare Scams

If your parents or grandparents are on Medicare, have a conversation with them before open enrollment begins. Many seniors are embarrassed to admit they received a suspicious call or may not realize they were targeted. Approach the conversation with respect — frame it as something you learned about and want to share, not as a lecture. Our guide on how to talk to parents about scams can help you navigate this conversation.

The single most important message to convey: Medicare will never call you to sell you something or ask for your Medicare number. If someone calls claiming to be from Medicare, hang up.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common Medicare open enrollment scams?

The most common scams include fake Medicare representatives calling to verify your number, plan switching scams where agents enroll you in plans without consent, and card harvesting schemes that steal your MBI for identity theft and fraudulent billing.

Will Medicare call me during open enrollment?

No. Medicare will never call you unsolicited to sell plans, ask for your Medicare number, or threaten to cancel coverage. The only time Medicare calls is if you previously requested a callback.

How do I report a Medicare scam?

Report to the HHS Office of Inspector General at 1-800-HHS-TIPS, the Senior Medicare Patrol at 1-877-808-2468, the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov, and your state Attorney General.

What is a Medicare card harvesting scam?

Card harvesting is when scammers obtain your Medicare Beneficiary Identifier and use it to submit fraudulent claims for services you never received. They steal this number through fake calls, door-to-door visits, fake health screenings, or phishing.