Medicare season
'They Call 15 Times a Day': Medicare Scammers Are Flooding Seniors Before Open Enrollment
Fake offers of new, plastic or 'gold' Medicare cards are a giveaway. Medicare already knows your number and won't ask for it.
Medicare's annual open enrollment period runs from October 15 to December 7. For scammers, it's high season — and this year they started early. Weeks before enrollment opened, seniors reported a flood of calls, texts and emails about their benefits.
One recently retired beneficiary told reporters she gets Medicare-related calls several times a day, even though her number is on the Do Not Call registry.
What the scammers want
Your Medicare number. With it, criminals can bill Medicare for services you never received or use your identity elsewhere. To get it, they claim your benefit information is incomplete, offer free benefits, or promise a new card.
Medicare will not call, text or email asking you to confirm your Medicare number. It already has it.
Offers of an "upgraded," plastic or gold Medicare card are a scam.
More than 40 health systems recently warned patients about a fake "MyChart Medicare Kit" spreading by text and email.
Shopping for a plan safely
Open enrollment is a real chance to review your coverage. Do it through Medicare.gov, by calling 1-800-MEDICARE, or with a local State Health Insurance Assistance Program counselor — not with someone who called you out of the blue.
What to do
- If anyone asks for your Medicare number on the phone, hang up.
- Don't click links in texts or emails about Medicare benefits or kits.
- Check your Medicare statements for services you didn't receive.
- Report suspicious calls at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.