The most common Medicare scams include:
- You need to pay for your new card A caller may claim to be a Medicare representative. ...
- You have a refund coming The scammer claims that your insurance company owes you a refund. ...
- They want to sell you a Part D plan The caller may ask if you’d like to purchase a new Part D plan or say that if you don’t ...
- You need to verify your personal information The criminal may call you claiming that you need to verify your Social Security, bank, or credit card information before they can ...
- Your new card was lost or compromised in some way The caller claims there’s a problem with your new Medicare card and may ask for personal information to “replace” ...
- You need to mail in your old Medicare card One scam involves demanding you send them your old Medicare card before you can receive the new one.
- You won free healthcare products or services
Full Answer
How can I tell if a Medicare claim is a scam?
Neither Medicare nor the Social Security Administration make phone calls or conduct door-to-door visits. Official communication always comes via mail. The best way for senior citizens to avoid the current wave of Medicare scams is to ignore the scammers by hanging up on suspicious phone calls and disregarding door-to-door visits.
What are the different types of Medicare scams?
Jan 06, 2022 · Call Medicare.gov at (800) 633-4227. Call the Office of the Inspector General at (800) HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477) File an online report with the Office of the Inspector General. Regardless of which option you choose, you will need certain information handy before you can file a report. Your name and Medicare number.
Can Medicare Advantage plans be a scam?
A provider that bills Medicare for services or supplies they never gave you, like charging you for a visit you never had, or a back brace you never got. A provider that charges Medicare twice for a service or item that you only got once. A person who steals your Medicare number or card and uses it to submit fraudulent claims in your name.
How do I report a Medicare fraudulent call?
Jul 07, 2020 · Any discrepancies between a bill you receive in the mail and your MSN or EOB could be a scam. In-Person Scams Be suspicious of anyone who comes to your home claiming to be from Medicare. They may try to sell you a product or entice you with "free" services. This is an attempt to gather personal information.
Can seniors get scammed by Medicare?
Senior citizens are subjected to Medicare scams all the time. Someone could defraud Medicare with your information or use your information to get treatment for themselves. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan that has an annual cap on services, that could mean you are forced to pay more out of pocket.
Can a scammer sell your information?
Scammers could even sell your personal information on the dark web and try to access your financial records. It is important to recognize these scams when they happen and to report them to prevent this kind of abuse. 10'000 Hours / Getty Images.
Does Medicare call unsolicited?
Medicare is not going to call you unsolicited. If for some reason more information is needed to process your Medicare application, the Social Security Administration will first reach out to you with an official letter to schedule a phone interview.
Does Medicare cover genetic testing?
For the record, you never need to activate or renew your Medicare card, there are no approved treatments for COVID-19, and Medicare rarely covers genetic testing. Also, some medical supply companies may offer "high-quality" products like braces but go on to deliver inexpensive low-quality versions.
Can you change your Medicare plan?
Claims that a representative must come to your home to finalize your plan. To be clear, you can only change Medicare plans during certain enrollment periods. Part B premiums are fixed based on your income. Unless you qualify for a Medicare Savings Plan through Medicare, your Part B premium will not be decreased.
When is open enrollment for Medicare?
Medical Open Enrollment season runs from October 15 to December 7. During this time, seniors are inundated with mail about different Medicare plans. Some of that information may be valid, others may represent false advertising. It is important to separate fact from fiction.
Does Medicare call you?
Medicare will not call you. Medicare rarely calls beneficiaries, and never calls to ask for your banking, credit card, or Social Security information. Anyone who calls you claiming to be from Medicare and asking for this information is a criminal.
How to protect Medicare card?
Whether it’s the new card or your old one, protect it. If someone calls you and asks for your card number, hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE. When you get your new card, shred the old one, making sure to destroy the number. 4.
Full List of Medicare Scams Below
The range of schemes could be: Medicare scam calls, Medicare genetic testing, bogus medical alert systems, Medicare Advantage scam, fake medical alert devices, Medicare Coverage Helpline scam, and many other types of Medicare abuse.
Bidencare Health Email
The Bidencare Health Email Scam takes advantage of people interested in getting the health insurance through the Bidencare enrollment.
Fake COVID-19 Vaccine
A new COVID-19 vaccine scam is happening today. It's known as the Fierce Pharma Email Scam, Pfizer Online Registration or the NHS Invite.
Natural Health Sherpa Scam
Watch out for the Natural Health Sherpa Scam, which is happening this week. If you just received an invoice referencing the company.
Free Medicare Back Brace
Beware of the Free Medicare Back Brace Scam. How does it work? It comes to a phone call offering no-cost back braces covered by Medicare.
MyBenefitsKeeper Reviews and Health Insurance Innovations Scam Complaints
We've received complaints from people worrying about a potential MyBenefitsKeeper scam. Here are some Health Insurance Innovations reviews.
ZuPoo Colon Cleanse
There is a bit of craziness these days about a potential ZuPoo scam. What is it? Miracle products. Read these ZoPoo colon cleanse reviews.
Is Medicare a scam?
If someone calls and says they’re from Medicare and offers you a “free” or “low cost” brace, hang up. No one from Medicare will call you with such an offer. It’s a scam.
What do scammers call Medicare?
Scam operators (many with foreign accents) call beneficiaries claiming to represent Medicare. They may say that new Medicare benefits cards are being issued and threaten to cancel Medicare coverage unless the beneficiary’s information is updated; claim they can improve benefits; “verify” your new Medicare card number to make sure you received your card; tell you to send in your old one, or claim they are selling Medicare policies. The caller might even ask for your information to send you a gift card. Sometimes, they’re selling phony products such as supplemental or prescription drug Medicare plans.
Can Medicare call you?
Unless you initiated the request, Medicare will NEVER call you. Medicare will never call you to sell you anything and they can’t enroll you over the phone unless you called first. Never give your Medicare or other personal information over the phone to anyone who calls asking for it.
What is medical identity theft?
Medical identity theft is when someone steals or uses your personal information (like your name, Social Security Number, or Medicare Number) to submit fraudulent claims to Medicare and other health insurers without your permission. This isn’t like the bank or your credit card where identity theft is usually covered.
What to do if you are scammed?
What To Do if You Were Scammed. Find out what to do if you paid someone you think is a scammer, gave them some personal information , or if they have access to your phone or computer. If You Paid a Scammer. If You Gave a Scammer Your Personal Information. If a Scammer Has Access to Your Computer or Phone. Report a Scam to the FTC.
Where to report a scam?
If you were scammed, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Will Medicare call you?
Medicare will never call you! Medicare may need information from you or may need to reach you; but, they’ll NEVER call. You’ll get a letter that will notify you of the necessary information that Medicare needs. Long story short, if the calls you’re receiving claim to be from Medicare, it’s a spam call.
Is a robocall a scam?
Robocalls are a scammer tactic that can give voice messages to people through pre-recordings. Many cell phone carriers provide services that may alert you if a call is likely a spam call. But, there are still tons of fraudulent calls that can make their way through the cracks.
What is the phone number for the Federal Trade Commission?
To register, call from the phone which you want on the Do Not Call list. The phone number is 1-888-382-1222.
Who is Lindsay Malzone?
Lindsay Malzone is the Medicare expert for MedicareFAQ. She has been working in the Medicare industry since 2017. She is featured in many publications as well as writes regularly for other expert columns regarding Medicare. You can also find her over on our Medicare Channel on YouTube as well as contributing to our Medicare Community on Facebook.