Medicare Scam Calls - How to Protect Yourself

Scammers frequently ramp up their efforts during Medicare Open Enrollment season (October 15 – December 7), but these deceptive calls happen year-round. Be on high alert if the caller:

• Asks for your Medicare Number or Social Security number to "update" or "reactivate" your account.
• Offers "free" medical equipment, such as knee, wrist, or back braces, as a hook to bill Medicare fraudulently under your name.
• Threatens to cancel your coverage or suspend your benefits unless you provide immediate financial payment or verify data.
• Claims your plastic card is expiring or that you need a "new chip card". Official Medicare cards are made of paper and do not have expiration dates.
• Spoofs the caller ID to make it look like a local number, a trusted news station, or an official agency like "Medicare" or "Government".

How to Stop and Block Scam Calls

While no single method blocks 100% of illegal robocalls, a combination of these steps will significantly reduce the volume:

1. Do Not Answer Unknown Numbers: Let unfamiliar calls go to voicemail. Picking up tells auto-dialers that your number is active, which triggers even more spam.
2. Use Built-In Phone Tools: Enable "Silence Unknown Callers" on your iOS device or "Block Unknown Numbers" on your Android device to automatically filter out unlisted callers.
3. Activate Carrier Protections: Use free or low-cost spam prevention apps provided directly by your mobile network, such as AT&T ActiveArmor, Verizon Call Filter, or T-Mobile Scam Shield.
4. Download Third-Party Blockers: Consider highly-rated spam filtering applications like Hiya, RoboKiller, or Nomorobo to screen and block malicious robocalls.
5. Register Your Number: Add your phone numbers to the National Do Not Call Registry. While this strictly limits legitimate telemarketers rather than overseas criminals, it helps eliminate legal sales traffic.

What to Do If You Shared Your Information

If you realize you accidentally gave your Medicare number, banking info, or personal details to a caller, act immediately:

• Report the Scam: Call official representatives at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) right away. They can flag your account, help prevent fraudulent billing, and issue you a clean replacement card with a new identifier.
• Monitor Your Statements: Regularly log into your profile on the official Medicare Portal or check your physical Medicare Summary Notices (MSN). Look closely for any billed services, tests, or medical hardware you never received.
• File Consumer Complaints: File an official fraud report with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Complaint Center or notify the Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) to assist federal authorities in tracking down illegal call networks.