Watch Out for the Latest Medicare Scams

How to recognize a Medicare scam

Unexpected calls from someone claiming to work for Medicare. “The only time someone would receive a call from Medicare is if the beneficiary called Medicare first and scheduled a phone appointment with a representative,” McKenna says.

Offers of a new Medicare card. “No one would receive a new Medicare card unless they personally requested one from Medicare, like in a case where their ID has been compromised,” she notes.

Fees for new or upgraded cards. Medicare cards are paper; there are no plastic Medicare cards or cards with chips. You can print a new Medicare card anytime from your online Medicare account.

Requests for personal information. “Medicare will not call beneficiaries to ask for personal information or to update your information or give you a new Medicare card number,” says Rose Morales, an SMP fraud investigative analyst with California Health Advocates.

Callers don’t clearly identify themselves. “Most scammers use generic phrases like ‘I’m calling from your health care provider’ or ‘I’m calling from Medicare Services,’ ” Morales says.

Threats of coverage cancellation. The caller says they’ll cancel your Medicare coverage unless you provide personal information over the phone. Medicare will never call you about canceling your coverage, and you will receive several bills and a delinquency notice in the mail before Medicare cancels your coverage for not paying Part B premiums.

Strange bills or charges. Take note if you receive a bill from a hospital or medical provider for care you didn’t receive, or you see a suspicious charge on your Medicare summary notice, which is your quarterly explanation of benefits from Medicare.

How to protect yourself from Medicare scams

1.   Know how Medicare works. As noted above, Medicare won’t call you out of the blue with requests for information or new card offers. Find out more at AARP’s Medicare resource center. 

2. Hang up immediately. If someone asks for your Medicare card number, hang up and call back on the number you know to be associated with them. Don’t use a number they give you. (It's good practice to never answer calls from people you don't know.)

3. Keep your Medicare card at home. Only carry your Medicare card if you need it for a medical appointment. If you’re worried about what happens if you’re in an accident, you can keep a copy of the card in your wallet with the number crossed out. If you’re in an accident, you’ll only need to show you have Medicare and your coverage start date and can provide the number later.

4. Read your Medicare claims notices. “Review your Medicare summary notice and explanation of benefits as you would with your own credit card statement,” Morales says. Look for claims for services you didn’t receive or for duplicate claims. You can check your claims record by reviewing the notice you receive in the mail every three months, or you can sign up to receive monthly electronic statements. To see current claims, go to your online Medicare account.  

5. Investigate odd charges. If you find suspicious charges on your Medicare summary notice, first contact your doctor’s office to ensure it isn’t just an error, and then contact Medicare or your local SMP to report the activity.

What to do if you’ve been targeted

Report the call to Medicare at 800-633-4227 and your state’s Senior Medicare Patrol at 877-808-2468. SMP volunteers can answer questions about suspicious charges and potential scams and help you report the fraud to Medicare and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General, which investigates Medicare fraud. They can also help you determine whether your Medicare number has been compromised and you should get a new one.

Report scams to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).

For support and guidance, the trained fraud specialists at the free AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline, 877-908-3360, can share information on what to do next and how to avoid future scams. The AARP Fraud Watch Network also offers online group support sessions.