Key Takeaways
- Medicare Open Enrollment runs October 15 through December 7, and fraud activity increases sharply during this window.
- Medicare fraud and scams cost the program an estimated $60 billion annually.
- Medicare will never call you unexpectedly to ask for your Medicare number, Social Security number, or banking information.
- If you’re targeted, report it to 1-800-MEDICARE, the Senior Medicare Patrol, and the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
If you’re on Medicare, you may have already noticed the calls picking up. Every fall, right around the time the leaves start turning and the Lowcountry finally cools off, the phone starts ringing off the hook (figuratively speaking) from scammers trying to steal your information and your money.
Open Enrollment, the period from October 15 to December 7 when Medicare beneficiaries can review and change their health and prescription drug coverage, is prime hunting season for scammers. They know exactly what’s happening this time of year, and they’ve built a set of strategies and scams around it. Here’s what their schemes look like, and how to make sure you don’t fall victim to them.
Why This Time of Year Is Different
Scammers are counting on a specific mix of circumstances when they start calling in October: millions of people are actively thinking about their coverage, and there’s a hard deadline creating pressure to act fast. That combination is a windfall for fraudsters.
The Scams to Know
Fortunately, the fraudsters tend to repeat the general types of scams they like to pull. They often fit into one of these categories:
“Your card needs to be updated” calls
A caller claims your Medicare card needs to be renewed, upgraded, or replaced, sometimes with the promise of a shiny new plastic or chip-enabled card. Don’t believe calls about renewing your card, and Medicare cards are always paper. There’s no plastic version, no chip version, and no fee to “activate” one. If anyone tells you otherwise, they’re a scammer.
Coverage cancellation threats
This one leans on creating fear in the person receiving the call. The caller will say that there’s a problem with your account and that your coverage will be canceled unless you verify your information right now. Medicare doesn’t call you out of nowhere to threaten your coverage.
Pressure to switch plans
A caller says you’re “pre-approved” for a better plan with lower premiums, or that your current plan is being discontinued and you need to switch immediately. Real plan changes come to you from official sources, and not as a cold call demanding an on-the-spot decision.
“Free” medical equipment and genetic testing offers
Back braces, orthotics, cardiovascular screenings, and genetic testing kits are pushed on you as free with no doctor’s order required. But in reality, the scammer isn’t going to be giving you anything. Rather, the main goal is to collect your Medicare number so they can bill the program for fraudulent equipment purchases and tests.
Caller ID spoofing
Scammers can make their number display as anything they wish, including as “Medicare,” a number with a local area code, or a number of an organization or health insurance company that you already know and trust. Your caller ID saying that an official and trusted organization is calling is a claim that, unfortunately, needs to be treated with extreme suspicion. It’s very easy for scammers to spoof numbers in this way.
Scams that follow real news
Whenever a data breach or Medicare-related story makes headlines, scammers use it as an opening line. This would include using highly publicized data breaches, for example. They may say something like, “We’re calling because of the recent breach.” The strategy on their end is to create an urgent reason for you to “verify” your information. Medicare will not call you to verify your information after a breach.
Red Flags Checklist
- The caller contacted you first; you didn’t authorize contact or call them first
- They ask for your Medicare number, Social Security number, or bank details, supposedly to “confirm” something
- They mention a deadline, a threat, or a limited-time offer. Anything that makes you fearful or causes you anxiety should be suspected. Hang up; you can always call the real Medicare number afterwards
- They offer something free in exchange for your Medicare number
- The caller ID shows a government agency, but you didn’t request the call
- You’re asked to pay a fee to receive, renew, or activate a Medicare card
If one or more of these apply to a call you’ve received, hang up. You can always call Medicare directly at 1-800-MEDICARE to check whether anything is actually going on with your account.
If You Think You’ve Been Targeted
Acting quickly after being scammed is important. We understand that it’s extremely normal to feel acute embarrassment which is likely to slow down the actions you take to recover from the fraud. While it’s understandable to feel embarrassed, scammers do this to careful, smart people every enrollment season. You are not the first person this has happened to. Here are some steps to take:
- Stop engaging. Don’t call back, click a link, or provide any additional information. If you’re on the phone with the scammer at the time, hang up without saying goodbye.
- Contact Latitude 32. If you shared any account or card information, call us so we can monitor your account and help you take next steps.
- Call 1-800-MEDICARE to flag your account and confirm whether your Medicare number may have been compromised.
- Reach out to your local Senior Medicare Patrol. SMP specializes in exactly this kind of fraud and can walk you through reporting it.
- Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, and consider placing a fraud alert with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion if your Social Security number was given to the scammer.
- Regularly review your Medicare Summary Notice. This is a wise idea at any time, but especially after a scammer has obtained your information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Medicare ever call me directly?
Not usually, and if they do, it’s okay to let them leave a message. If any claims are made on the message, you can investigate and call the official Mecidare number back on your own time. For example, if you left a message and asked for a callback, or already have an appointment scheduled, then it makes sense to expect a call. And what Medicare does not do is cold-call beneficiaries to get your information, sell plans, verify numbers, or warn about coverage loss.
What’s the difference between Medicare fraud and a Medicare scam?
Medicare fraud generally involves a provider or supplier billing Medicare improperly. A Medicare scam targets you directly, tricking you into handing over your Medicare number, Social Security number, or banking details so the scammer can commit fraud in your name.
Do scams really increase during Open Enrollment?
Yes. The combination of a hard deadline, heavy plan advertising, and people actively reviewing their coverage makes October through early December the most dangerous period of the year for Medicare-related scams.
What can someone actually do with my Medicare number?
They can bill Medicare for equipment, tests, or services you never received, which can show up as fraudulent charges, consume benefits you may need later, and even add confusing information to your actual medical record.
How can I tell if a Medicare call is legitimate?
Cold calls that ask for information are not legitimate. And to quote the FCC: “Never 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.”
Who do I contact to report a Medicare scam?
Start with 1-800-MEDICARE, then your local Senior Medicare Patrol at 1-877-808-2468, and file a report with the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
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