Medicare and Health Insurance Phone Scam

Medicare fraud costs the federal government more than $60 billion a year, and a sizeable share of it starts with a phone call. Scammers offer "free" back braces, fake plan upgrades, or fake refunds — all designed to harvest Medicare numbers for fraudulent billing.

Warning signs

• Offers of "free" medical supplies (knee braces, COVID test kits, diabetic supplies) in exchange for your Medicare number.
• Calls about "your new Medicare card" that requires confirming your number.
• Pitches for genetic-testing kits or DNA cancer screenings.
• Pressure to switch Medicare Advantage plans during open enrollment.

Real-world scripts

• "You qualify for a free back brace at no cost to you — just verify your Medicare number."
• "Your new Medicare card is being issued. Confirm your details to receive it."
• "Our records show you have not used your DNA-screening benefit. Press 1 to claim it."

If you receive this call

• Never give your Medicare number to anyone who called you.
• Hang up. Medicare does not call to sell anything.
• Report at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or oig.hhs.gov.
• Check your Medicare Summary Notice for unfamiliar charges every month.

Related scams

• Social Security Scam

  Your Social Security Number cannot be "suspended" or "blocked" — that's the core of why this scam is a lie. The Social S…

• IRS Phone Scam

  The IRS phone scam has been the top-reported government-impersonation scam in the US for over a decade. Real IRS contact…

• Fraud Calls in the US

  Phone fraud in the US targets every demographic — students hear loan forgiveness scams, parents hear Medicare scams, sen…