How To Avoid Falling for Medicare Scam Calls

You can avoid falling for Medicare scam calls by blocking unknown numbers, refusing to give out your personal information to unsolicited callers and staying informed about common phone scams. Although all types of scams can be dangerous, scams involving Medicare endanger their targets by potentially compromising their health insurance and identity.

Read more to learn what Medicare scam calls are, how they work, some common examples and how you can avoid falling for these scams.

What are Medicare scam calls and how do they work?

Medicare scam calls typically target those who are eligible for Medicare – older individuals. Scammers impersonate Medicare, your health provider or a government agency to gain your trust. They can do this sneakily by spoofing the phone number that appears on your screen so that it will not seem like an entirely random phone number. After you answer the familiar phone number, scammers will make professional conversation and then ask you for personal information, such as your Medicare card number, health insurance information, credit card information and Social Security number. 

Medicare scam call examples

There are several common examples of Medicare scam calls that you should be aware of in case you ever become a target.

“Your Medicare is going to be canceled”

A scammer might warn you that they have noticed an issue with your Medicare account and that your health benefits will be canceled unless you immediately verify your personal information with them. If you ever receive a call threatening to cancel your Medicare coverage, you should know that this is a scam and hang up immediately.

“Your Medicare card is invalid”

You may receive a call from a scammer telling you that new Medicare cards are being issued, making your current one invalid. However, the scammer will say you must give them your personal information to receive your new Medicare card. You should know that Medicare will never call you unless you have contacted them first. If there are any issues with your Medicare card, Medicare will send you an official letter in the mail rather than calling you out of the blue.

“You’re eligible for a refund”

One of the most common and effective Medicare scams is when a scammer tells an older adult that they are eligible for a refund due to a change in their plan. However, for you to receive this phony refund, the scammer will ask for your Medicare number and even your bank account number. If you ever receive a call from someone claiming that Medicare owes you hundreds or thousands of dollars, there is a very high chance that this is a scam. Medicare will never ask you to verify your Medicare number or bank account information before issuing a refund, so you should end the conversation with the scammer immediately.

“You’re eligible for free medical supplies or prescription drugs”

Some of these Medicare scam calls appear too good to be true, like the promise of free medical supplies, prescriptions or services. This can be especially dangerous because a scammer might have researched any health conditions you have, allowing them to target you more specifically for supplies or prescriptions that would be valuable to your health. To send you free supplies or prescriptions, a scammer will ask you for your shipping information. If, at any point, you are asked for your shipping or financial information, be aware that this is a scam.

“You’ve been pre-approved for a better healthcare plan”

Many scammers try to persuade you to enroll in a cheaper or better healthcare plan and claim that you have already been pre-approved. During an open enrollment period, these Medicare scammers will call older Americans to trick them into signing up for fake plans. If you are ever contacted about changing your Medicare plan or signing up for a new one and you did not contact Medicare first, end the conversation immediately

Tips to avoid falling for Medicare scam calls

Now that you know the most common types of Medicare scam calls, you need to know how to avoid falling victim to them.

Never answer calls from unknown numbers

Although some scammers will spoof their phone numbers, many scammers will call from unknown numbers. It’s important that you don’t answer calls from phone numbers that aren’t in your contacts, because just answering an unknown number is enough to indicate to scammers that your phone number is active. This can spark a domino effect of many scammers trying not only to get you to answer the phone but also to interact with them and give them your personal information. By not answering unknown numbers, you will minimize your chances of receiving future scam calls.

Sign up for the National Do Not Call Registry

Another easy way to eliminate the chances of scammers being able to contact you is by signing up for the National Do Not Call Registry (DNC). The DNC Registry is a free service that allows you to reduce the number of scam and telemarketing calls that you receive. You can register by entering your home and/or mobile phone numbers, then you will notice a decreased rate of scam calls.

Block spam calls

Typically, there are settings on your mobile phone that will silence or block spam callers if enabled. For iPhone users, you can automatically send unknown callers to voicemail by going to Settings, clicking Phone and then tapping Silence Unknown Callers. For Android users, you can block unknown numbers by opening your Phone app, tapping the three dots in the top right corner, hitting Settings then Block numbers. Once there, you will see a switch to toggle that says Block unknown callers. Enabling these settings on your mobile phones will prevent scammers from being able to contact you, which prevents you from accidentally sharing private information with them.

You can also see if your phone service provider offers call-blocking services to block spam calls. While you may still receive some spam calls, this service will minimize the number of spam calls you receive, providing extra security against scams. Another way to protect yourself from spam calls is by downloading a spam-filtering app, which is designed to block spam callers based on a large database of reported spam calls.

Don’t give out your personal information to just anyone

One of the most important things you can do when you receive an unsolicited phone call is to ensure you do not provide your personal information. Avoid giving out any information related to your finances, like bank account or credit card numbers. You should also never share your Social Security number or Medicare number over the phone, since Medicare will not contact you unless you have contacted them first. As a general practice, do not share your home address or any passwords over the phone either, since these could help a scammer learn more about you and even steal your identity.

Stay informed about common scams

A great way to avoid falling for Medicare scams is to be aware of the most recent and common scams. Many cybersecurity blogs and websites share information about news in the industry, the latest scams, research studies and more. You should regularly check cybersecurity blogs and websites to stay alert about trending scams and keep yourself protected.

Avoid falling victim to Medicare scam calls

Any scam call can be frightening, but scams related to your healthcare could lead to immense stress. Make sure to avoid answering calls from unknown numbers, sign up for the DNC Registry to reduce scam calls and don’t reveal your private information to anyone over the phone. If you ever believe that you are a target for a Medicare scam call, it is best to hang up and contact Medicare directly. Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to check the status of your Medicare account to make sure your healthcare plan and insurance is protected.