If you are on Medicare, scammers consider you a prime target. Medicare scam calls are among the most common frauds aimed at seniors, and they are getting more sophisticated every year. The callers sound professional, they use official-sounding language, and they know enough about Medicare to seem legitimate. But there are clear signs that give them away every time.

The Golden Rule: Medicare Never Calls You

This is the single most important thing to know: Medicare will never call you unsolicited to ask for your Medicare number. They will never call you to sell you anything. They will not call you to offer free equipment, new cards, or genetic testing. If someone calls claiming to be from Medicare and asks for your personal information, it is a scam. Full stop.

The only time Medicare may call you is if you have already called them and they are returning your call, or if your doctor's office has made a specific inquiry on your behalf. Even then, they will never ask for your Medicare number over the phone because they already have it.

Warning Your Medicare number is as valuable to scammers as your Social Security number. With your Medicare number, criminals can bill Medicare for services you never received, open fraudulent accounts, and commit identity theft. Never share your Medicare number with anyone who calls you.

The Four Most Common Medicare Scams

1. The New Medicare Card Scam

A caller says Medicare is issuing new cards and needs to verify your information to send you one. They ask for your Medicare number, Social Security number, and sometimes your bank account information for a "processing fee." In reality, Medicare does not charge for cards and does not call to verify information for card reissues. If you need a replacement card, you request one yourself through Medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.

2. The Free Medical Equipment Scam

Someone calls offering a free back brace, knee brace, wheelchair, or other medical equipment "covered by Medicare." To send it, they just need your Medicare number. Once they have it, they bill Medicare for expensive equipment you may never receive, or they send you cheap, useless items while billing Medicare for thousands of dollars. Legitimate medical equipment requires a prescription from your doctor.

3. The DNA Testing Scam

Callers offer a free DNA or genetic testing kit, claiming Medicare covers it and it can help detect cancer or other diseases early. They send a testing kit to your home and use your Medicare number to bill for expensive genetic tests, often costing thousands of dollars. Medicare only covers genetic testing when ordered by your treating physician for a specific medical reason.

4. The Medicare Advantage Plan Scam

During open enrollment season, scammers call pretending to be Medicare representatives who can help you switch to a better plan. They pressure you to sign up immediately and collect your personal information in the process. Real Medicare representatives do not make unsolicited calls to sell plans. If you want help choosing a plan, contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for free, unbiased advice.

Tip Write "Medicare will NEVER call me" on a sticky note and place it near your phone. This simple reminder can stop you from engaging with a scammer in the critical first seconds of a call. If someone claims to be from Medicare, hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) yourself to verify.

What to Do If You Get a Medicare Scam Call

  1. Hang up immediately. Do not press any buttons and do not engage with the caller.
  2. Do not share any information. Do not confirm your name, Medicare number, Social Security number, or bank details.
  3. Call Medicare directly at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to verify whether the call was legitimate and to report the scam.
  4. Report to the HHS Office of Inspector General at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477) or online at oig.hhs.gov.
  5. Check your Medicare statements. Review your Medicare Summary Notices regularly for charges you do not recognize. If you see something wrong, report it immediately.

What If You Already Gave Out Your Medicare Number?

If you have already shared your Medicare number with a suspicious caller, take these steps right away:

  • Call Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE and tell them your number may have been compromised. They can monitor your account for fraudulent billing.
  • Request a new Medicare number. Medicare can issue a new number if yours has been stolen.
  • Monitor your Medicare Summary Notices for any services or equipment you did not receive.
  • Consider placing a fraud alert on your credit reports through the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion).

Protect Your Loved Ones

If you have parents or grandparents on Medicare, have a conversation with them about these scams. Many seniors are trusting by nature and may feel obligated to cooperate with someone who sounds like they are from the government. Let them know that the real Medicare will never call asking for their number, and that hanging up on a suspicious call is always the right thing to do.

Share this article with them, or better yet, bookmark NoScamForMe on their phone or computer so they can check any suspicious message or call instantly.

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