Guide
Medicare scams: how to spot them, and what to do
Scammers know enrollment season brings a wave of Medicare calls, and they blend in. Your Medicare number is worth money to them. A few simple rules will keep it safe, and you'll know who to call if something feels wrong.
Last reviewed October 26, 2026. General information, not advice about any plan.
Common scams
- "I'm calling from Medicare"
- The caller says you need a new card, your benefits will stop, or you're owed a refund, and asks to "verify" your Medicare or Social Security number.
- Free tests and equipment
- Offers of free genetic or COVID tests, braces or medical equipment, as long as you give your Medicare number. Medicare is then billed for things you didn't need or never got.
- Too-good-to-be-true plan offers
- Ads promising cash back, grocery money or "new benefits" if you switch plans today. Some plans offer extras in some areas, but pressure to switch on the spot is a warning sign.
- Switching you without asking
- Someone enrolls you in a different plan after a call you thought was just information. You find out when a new card arrives or your doctor is out of network.
- Fake agents
- Someone claims to be a licensed agent but isn't, or uses another agent's name.
Signs it's a scam
- They called, texted or knocked first, and you didn't ask them to.
- They say they're from Medicare, Social Security or "the government," or that a plan is endorsed by Medicare.
- They ask for your Medicare number, Social Security number or bank details to "verify" you.
- They pressure you to decide right now, or say an offer ends today.
- They offer gifts, cash or free items in exchange for your Medicare number.
- They won't give a full name and National Producer Number, or the license doesn't check out.
Protect your Medicare number
Treat it like a credit card number
Give it only to your doctors, your pharmacy, your plan, and a licensed agent you chose and checked, when you're enrolling.Never share it with someone who called you
Hang up and call the organization back using a number you found yourself, such as the one on your card.Read your statements
Check your Medicare Summary Notice or your plan's Explanation of Benefits for services, tests or equipment you didn't receive.Check any agent's license before you meet
It takes about two minutes with your state's official lookup.
What to do and who to call
- 1-800-MEDICARE
- 1-800-633-4227 (TTY 1-877-486-2048), 24/7 except some federal holidays. Report suspected Medicare fraud or a plan you were enrolled in without agreeing.
- Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP)
- Free help spotting and reporting Medicare fraud and errors. Call 1-877-808-2468, or find your state's SMP at smpresource.org.
- Your state insurance department
- For a dishonest or unlicensed agent. Each state's license page lists the number and complaint form.
- Federal Trade Commission
- For scams of any kind, at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
If a listing on this site looks fake or misleading, report it to us and we'll look into it.
Common questions
Does Medicare ever call people?
Medicare won't call you uninvited to ask for your Medicare number or other personal information. If you're unsure whether a call is real, hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE yourself.
Do I have to pay for a new Medicare card?
No. Medicare cards are free. Anyone asking you to pay for a card, or to "activate" one, is a scammer.
Is it a scam if an agent calls me about a plan?
If you didn't ask to be contacted, be very careful. Agents aren't allowed to make unsolicited calls to sell Medicare Advantage or drug plans. Hang up and check their license before you talk again.
What if I already gave out my Medicare number?
Call 1-800-MEDICARE, tell them what happened, and watch your Medicare Summary Notices and plan statements for services you didn't get. Senior Medicare Patrol can help you check.
Keep reading
- How to check an insurance agent's licenseLook up any agent with your state's insurance department, in about two minutes.
- A local Medicare agent or a 1-800 number: what's the difference?The TV ads and the agent down the street are both licensed. How they differ in who you talk to, what happens to your phone number, and who's there next year.
- Does Medicare cover medical equipment? Walkers, wheelchairs, CPAP, oxygen and moreWhat Part B pays for walkers, wheelchairs, hospital beds, CPAP machines, oxygen and glucose monitors, the rent-or-buy rules, how to avoid paying more at the supplier, and what isn't covered.
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