Scam Alerts
Does Medicare ever call you? What's real and what's a scam
Video · 2:37 · Watch on YouTube
Got a call that says "This is Medicare" and asks for your number? Medicare's own website says it will never call you to sell you anything. Here's when Medicare really does call, what the "new card" call is, why caller ID can't be trusted, and what to do, from Medicare.gov and the Federal Trade Commission.
If someone in your family is on Medicare, send them this.
Protect yourself
How to protect yourself
- Medicare will never call you to sell you anything or visit you at your home. Medicare.gov
- Medicare sends its cards to you automatically, for free. A caller who wants your Medicare, bank or card number for a “new card” is running a scam. FTC
- Caller ID can be faked, even when it shows Medicare’s name or number. FTC
- Don’t give your Medicare Number or Social Security Number to anyone except your doctor or people you know should have it. Medicare.gov
- If you think a call might be real, hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) yourself. FTC
- Report it to 1-800-MEDICARE, your local Senior Medicare Patrol or the FTC. Medicare.gov; FTC
- Open Enrollment runs Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, and scam calls about “new plans” and “new cards” rise in that window. Medicare won’t call you to sell you a plan, and you don’t lose benefits for not switching. FTC
Where to report it and get help
- Medicare.gov: Reporting Medicare fraud and abuseOr call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227)
- Senior Medicare PatrolFree local help checking Medicare statements and calls
- HHS Office of Inspector General: Report Medicare fraudOr call 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477)
- SHIP: free, unbiased Medicare plan counselingCompare plans with a counselor instead of a caller
- FTC: Avoid scams during Medicare’s Open Enrollment
- ReportFraud.ftc.govReport the scam to the Federal Trade Commission
- AARP Fraud Watch Network HelplineFree helpline: call 877-908-3360
Free, no signup: Fake Medicare card update calls: what they sound like (KeepUp Academy). KeepUp Academy is a sister project from the team behind Undercurrent.
When medicare really calls
Medicare.gov: "Medicare will never call you to sell you anything or visit you at your home." Medicare, or someone representing Medicare, "will only call and ask for personal information in limited situations (like an agent or representative returning your call after you've joined a plan, reported fraud, or left a message for Medicare)."
The "new card" call
FTC: scammers often pretend to be from Medicare, or connected to Medicare, to try to steal your money or personal information. They might say they need your Medicare, bank account or credit card number for your "new" Medicare card. The FTC says that's a scam: Medicare sends its cards to you automatically, for free.
Caller id can be faked
FTC: your caller ID might show Medicare's name or phone number, but caller ID can be faked.
What to do
- Don't give your Medicare card, Medicare Number, Social Security card or Social Security Number to anyone except your doctor or people you know should have it. Medicare.gov
- If you think a call might be real, hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) yourself. FTC
- Report it: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) · your local Senior Medicare Patrol: https://smpresource.org · FTC: https://reportfraud.ftc.gov
Where it stands
Medicare Open Enrollment runs Oct. 15 to Dec. 7. How many people get these calls: the pages we read don't say.
The call shown and labelled EXAMPLE was written by Undercurrent to show the warning signs: no real caller, number or plan. Not legal or financial advice.
Chapters
- 0:00Does Medicare call you?
- 0:19When Medicare really calls you
- 0:50The fake Medicare 'new card' call
- 1:14Medicare caller ID can be faked
- 1:27Medicare scam call: what to do
- 2:01Medicare scam calls: where it stands
Read the video transcript
Open enrollment for Medicare starts October fifteenth. And so do the calls. "This is Medicare. We need to verify your number for your new card." So when does Medicare actually call you?
Medicare's own website says it will never call you to sell you anything, or visit you at your home. And it will only call and ask for personal information in limited situations, like an agent or representative returning your call after you've joined a plan, reported fraud, or left a message for Medicare. A call out of the blue asking for your Medicare number isn't on that list. The Federal Trade Commission says scammers often pretend to be from Medicare, or connected to Medicare, to steal your money or personal information.
Their usual story: a new card. They ask for your Medicare, bank or card number. Medicare sends its cards automatically, for free. Your caller ID might show Medicare's name or number.
But the FTC puts it plainly: caller ID can be faked. Medicare says don't give your Medicare or Social Security number to anyone except your doctor, or people you know should have it. If a call might be real, the FTC says hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE yourself: 1-800-633-4227. Report it there, to your local Senior Medicare Patrol, or at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
So: Medicare doesn't call to sell you anything. Caller ID can be faked. Hang up and call Medicare yourself. How many people are targeted?
The pages we read don't say. If someone in your family is on Medicare, send them this. If it's a real call, hanging up and calling back costs you nothing. This has been Undercurrent.
Sources
- Medicare.gov, "Reporting Medicare fraud & abuse"medicare.gov/basics/reporting-medicare-fraud-and-abuse
- Medicare.gov, joining a plan (Open Enrollment dates)medicare.gov/basics/get-started-with-medicare/get-more-coverage/joining-a-plan
- FTC Consumer Alert, "Avoid scams during Medicare's Open Enrollment Period" (Kira Krown, Nov. 18, 2024)consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2024/11/avoid-scams-during-medicares-open-enrollment-period
- Senior Medicare Patrol Resource Centersmpresource.org
- FTC reporting sitereportfraud.ftc.gov
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