What is the number to call for Medicare questions?
1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) is the official Medicare phone number that beneficiaries may call for help with their coverage, claims, payments and more.
Why do I keep getting calls about my Medicare card?
They usually claim that the senior’s Medicare card has expired, prompting the release of personal information like name, address, Medicare number, or Social Security number. From offers for free medical supplies and entitlement to refunds to attempts to verify your identity, all of these calls are examples of a scam you should run far away from.
Do you need to protect your Medicare card number?
According to Medicare, you need to protect the new card as you would a credit card, giving the number only "to doctors, pharmacists, other healthcare providers, your insurer, or people you trust to work with Medicare on your behalf." (And watch out for phone, mail, and internet scams that request your MBI.)
How do I contact the Medicare office?
You may call 24 hours a day, 7 days per week, and help is available in both English and Spanish as well as for the hearing impaired (the TTY Medicare toll-free line is 1-877-486-2048). The prompts, questions and menus that you hear when calling the Medicare phone number can change at different times of the year for different reasons.
Should you give your Medicare number over the phone?
Keep your Medicare Number to yourself. If you get a call from people promising you things if you give them your Medicare Number — don't do it. This is a common Medicare scam. Refuse any offer of money or gifts for free medical care.
Does Medicare solicit by phone?
Medicare generally won't call you, except in limited circumstances. One such exception is if you have called 1-800-MEDICARE and requested a return call. Medicare will never call or come to your home uninvited to sell products or services.
Does Medicare call you for any reason?
Medicare already has all of the information they need about you. Medicare or Social Security will never call you! They generally will send you a letter to let you know you need to contact them.
Can someone steal your identity with your Medicare card?
Medical identity theft happens 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. Medicare is working to find and prevent fraud and abuse.
What is considered Medicare abuse?
What Is Medicare Abuse? Abuse describes practices that may directly or indirectly result in unnecessary costs to the Medicare Program. Abuse includes any practice that does not provide patients with medically necessary services or meet professionally recognized standards of care.
What is Medicare assist phone calls?
They're telling target victims that they can sell them cheaper insurance, with the goal of just getting their hands on the victim's Medicare number. Once they get that number, they can commit insurance fraud. A viewer sent an email detailing one of the calls. He wrote, "This morning I got a telephone call.
Which is an example of Medicare abuse?
The most common types of Medicare abuse include: billing for services that are not medically necessary. overcharging for services or supplies. improperly using billing codes to increase reimbursement.
What is the Medicare phone number?
Medicare provides beneficiaries with an easy-to-remember 800 number: 1-800-MEDICARE. (That’s 1-800-633-4227.)
When can I call Medicare for help?
The toll-free phone line is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Before you dial though, remember that almost all Medicare-related questions...
When should I call 1-800-MEDICARE?
Beneficiaries can call the toll-free Medicare number to: ask whether certain services are covered, get detailed information about Medicare health a...
How else can I contact Medicare?
You can mail your questions or hard copies of documents to: Medicare Contact Center Operations PO Box 1270 Lawrence, KS 66044 Or fax Medicare at 1-...
What information can I find at Medicare.gov?
Medicare.gov contains a treasure trove of contact information and details about Medicare coverage. For contact information, visit the contact page...
Where else can I get Medicare advice?
State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) are free volunteer-based Medicare counseling services available in each state. These programs pr...
When should I call Social Security instead of 1-800-MEDICARE?
Although Social Security and Medicare are linked in many ways, the Social Security Administrations manages enrollment and eligibility for Medicare...
When should I not call 1-800-MEDICARE?
Do not call 1-800-MEDICARE if you have specific questions about your Medicare Advantage (Part C) or Part D plan. Because these policies are adminis...
How do Medicare phone scams work?
Across the country, seniors may receive calls from scam operators who claim to represent Medicare or a different insurance provider. They usually claim that the senior’s Medicare card has expired, prompting the release of personal information like name, address, Medicare number, or Social Security number.
Should I give my Medicare number over the phone?
Because many Medicare recipients have received new Medicare cards since 2018, scam calls encouraging the “activation” of these cards are on the rise. You do not need to activate a Medicare card, update your information, or pay any kind of fee to use your new card once you receive it.
What can a scammer do with my Medicare number?
To help prevent against identity theft, Medicare has issued new cards to recipients that have your Medicare number instead of your Social Security number on the back.
Conclusion
It can be a scary world out there, but the best offense is a great defense. That’s why it’s so important to stay up to date on all things Medicare — you never know when it could save you big!
How many characters are on Medicare card?
Medicare IDs cards used to include Social Security numbers, but now have an 11-character Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI ), that’s a mix of letters and numbers.
Do I need to protect my Medicare card?
According to Medicare, you need to protect the new card as you would a credit card, giving the number only "to doctors, pharmacists, other healthcare providers, your insurer, or people you trust to work with Medicare on your behalf.". (And watch out for phone, mail, and internet scams that request your MBI.)
Can you use a new Medicare card after 2019?
Note that until the end of 2019, healthcare providers can use either new Medicare IDs or the old ones to communicate with or seek payment from the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). After that, there are a few limited exceptions for use of the older Medicare cards. How to Just Say No.
What is the number to call Medicare?
1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) is the official Medicare phone number that beneficiaries may call for help with their coverage, claims, payments and more. You may call 24 hours a day, 7 days per week, ...
What to call Medicare before calling?
Before you call the Medicare phone number. Before calling 1-800-MEDICARE, have your Medicare card ready in case the representative needs to know your Medicare number. If you are calling with a question about a claim or a bill, have the bill or the Explanation of Benefits (EOB) handy for reference.
How much is Medicare Part A deductible?
The Medicare Part A deductible is $1,364 per benefit period in 2019. The deductible for Medicare Part B is $185 per year for 2019. Deductibles for Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plans will vary from one plan to the next and can change every year.
How to contact Medicare for lost card?
1-800-MEDICARE and press “ 0 ”. or say “ Help me with something else ”. or press “ 6 ”. or say “ Agent ”. Replacing a lost Medicare card. 1-800-772-1213. Medicare questions for the hearing impaired. 1-877-486-2048. Social Security.
How to check Medicare claim status?
While you can always call Medicare to check on a Medicare claim status, you can also do so by visiting MyMedicare.gov. You will need to set up an account for the website, which will allow you to access certain information about your Medicare coverage: 1 You can check the status of any Medicare Part A or Part B claim, usually within 24 hours after the claim is processed. 2 You can check your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN), which shows all of your Medicare coverage and billing activity for the previous three months. 3 You can download and save your Medicare Part A and Part B claims information.
What is Medicare Part A and Part B?
Medicare Part A and Part B (also call Original Medicare) cover a wide range of services, so it’s understandable why so many beneficiaries call 1-800-MEDICARE with questions about whether or not a particular service or health care product will be covered by Original Medicare.
What happens if you call Medicare about a denied claim?
If you say “yes,” you will be routed to a representative who will help you with your claim.
What does Medicare check?
If you have Original Medicare, check your MSN. This notice shows the health care services, supplies, or equipment you got, what you were charged, and how much Medicare paid. If you’re in a Medicare health plan, check the statements you get from your plan.
When you get health care services, record the dates on a calendar and save the receipts and statements you get from
When you get health care services, record the dates on a calendar and save the receipts and statements you get from providers to check for mistakes. Compare this information with the claims Medicare processed to make sure you or Medicare weren’t billed for services or items you didn’t get.
What do scammers want from Medicare?
What the scammers really want, of course, is to get personal or financial information for the purposes of identity theft or outright theft. To thwart a Medicare card scam, follow some basic precautions.
What does "800-633-4227" mean?
You receive an unexpected call from someone claiming to work for Medicare. Actual employees will never call you without being invited to do so — for example, if you left a message at Medicare’s customer service line (800-633-4227). The caller claims you need to pay a fee to get a new or upgraded Medicare card,
Can you share your Social Security number?
Don’t share your Medicare or Social Security number (or other personal information) with anyone who contacts you out of the blue by phone, text or email or shows up unannounced at your door.
Know the Law
Generally, you're under no obligation to provide your SSN to healthcare providers (but they’re not obligated to take you as a patient either). Health insurers will likely ask for it, and you do have to offer it up if you’re entering a VA hospital.
How to Just Say No
If you're asked to provide your SSN—and simply leaving the space blank doesn’t get you a pass—politely push back.
The Medicare open enrollment period tends to lead to an increase in scam calls
From October 15 to December 7, Medicare beneficiaries can renew their benefits and new insurance seekers are able to apply. They can also expect brochures, notices from Social Security, a “Medicare & You” handbook, or even an Annual Notice of Changes (ANOC) depending on their enrollment status.
How Medicare sought to protect its beneficiaries
Historically, it has been incredibly easy to siphon information from vulnerable people over the phone, especially the elderly, due to the fact that people have grown accustomed to verifying their identity with their social security number.
How to protect yourself and those around you from malicious robocalls
Scammers know to target the elderly and vulnerable, never answer a number you don’t recognize. Smartphones can even alert you with a “ Scam Likely ” caller ID to help people remain protected (find out how to activate it here ).
