Common Medicare scams
- The “new card” call. A caller says you need a new Medicare card and asks you to “confirm” your Medicare or Social Security number.
- “Free” equipment or tests. Offers of free back braces, diabetic supplies or genetic tests — in exchange for your Medicare number.
- Threats to cancel your benefits. The caller claims your coverage will end unless you act right now.
- Pressure to switch plans. Someone pushes you to enroll in a new plan over the phone, often promising gifts or benefits that sound too good to be true.
- Fake links. Texts or emails that look official and ask you to click a link to “update” your information.
What Medicare will never do
Medicare generally won't call you for personal information unless you called first and asked for a call back, or a plan you already belong to is contacting you. Medicare will never:
- Ask for your Medicare number or bank information in an unexpected call, text or email
- Threaten to cancel your benefits if you don't share information
- Charge you for a new Medicare card
- Come to your home to sell you something
Our advice to every client
Be cautious of unsolicited calls, texts or emails about Medicare. Never give personal information over the phone to someone you don't know. Don't enroll over the phone with a stranger — call us instead.
How to protect yourself
- Hang up. You don't have to be polite to a pushy caller. Hang up and call a number you trust.
- Guard your Medicare card like a credit card. Share your number only with your doctors, your pharmacy, your insurance company or a licensed agent you chose to work with.
- Don’t click links in unexpected texts or emails about Medicare.
- Check your statements. Review your Medicare Summary Notices and your plan's Explanation of Benefits for services you didn't receive.
- Know your agent. A real licensed agent will tell you their name and license number and won't rush you. Agents aren't allowed to make unsolicited calls to sell you Medicare plans. You can look up an agent's license with the Louisiana Department of Insurance.
- Talk it over. Before signing anything, check with a family member or someone you trust.
What to do if you think you've been scammed
- Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227; TTY 1-877-486-2048) to report suspected fraud.
- If you shared your Social Security number or bank information, contact your bank right away and consider placing a fraud alert with the credit bureaus.
- Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- Report Medicare fraud to the HHS Office of Inspector General hotline at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477).
- Get free, local help from your Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) through smpresource.org.
- Call us. We'll help you check your coverage and make sure nothing was changed without your permission.
Share this with someone you love
Scammers often target people who live alone or are new to Medicare. Print this page or email it to a parent, grandparent or neighbor. A two-minute conversation can prevent a lot of heartache — and remember the Annual Enrollment Period is when scam calls tend to spike.
Questions about Medicare scams
Someone called and asked for my Medicare number. What should I do?
Hang up and don't confirm any information. If you already shared your number, call 1-800-MEDICARE to report it, and call us so we can help you check your coverage.
Is it safe to enroll in a plan over the phone?
Only if you placed the call to someone you know and trust, such as a licensed agent you chose or the plan itself. Never enroll with a stranger who called you out of the blue.
How can I tell if an agent is legitimate?
Ask for their full name and license number, and look them up with the Louisiana Department of Insurance. A legitimate agent won't pressure you, threaten you or ask you to decide on the spot.
Will you ever ask for my Medicare number online?
No. We will never ask for your Medicare number, Social Security number or bank information through our website or by email.
