Medicare beneficiaries are targeted past scammers and identity thieves all year long, simply fraudulent action tends to increase around the Medicare Open Enrollment (MOE) period that runs from October 15 to Dec 7 each twelvemonth. Protect yourself and your loved ones by learning about the near common Medicare scams and how to decide whether communication from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is legitimate.

Common Medicare Scams

Almost of these scams take identify over the telephone, merely some practice occur via email, U.Southward. mail and door-to-door visits. Fraudulent callers typically steal a person's identity by making up stories to try to obtain their name, Social Security number (SSN) or financial data.

(Note: Medicare used to use SSNs to place beneficiaries and their health insurance claims, but CMS began distributing new Medicare cards without SSNs on them in 2018. Instead, these new cards feature a beneficiary'south unique Medicare Number, which is nonetheless a sensitive slice of identifying information that should be protected.)

Medicare beneficiaries should be wary of the following schemes:

  1. Attempts to "verify your identity."
    Someone calls to tell you that you lot must provide identifying information to receive a new or updated Medicare menu. They may fifty-fifty tell y'all there'south a charge for the new card and request a credit bill of fare number likewise.
  2. Bogus offers for "costless medical supplies."
    A caller will pretend to offer durable medical equipment or a medical checkup at no cost to you because "Medicare volition cover it." The only catch is that the caller needs your SSN or Medicare Number to verify coverage and/or a credit menu number to cover shipping costs for the free supplies.
  3. False claims that y'all're entitled to a "refund."
    Another stray variation involves a caller who explains that, due to a vague alter in Medicare coverage, you're owed a refund. They will typically ask for your Medicare Number and bank account information and so they can straight eolith the funds.

Identifying Fraudulent Callers

Information technology is crucial to understand that telephone scammers aren't always easy to identify. In nearly cases, information technology is best not to reply any calls from unknown or out-of-boondocks numbers. However, applied science has made it so that scammers can fake caller ID data by using spoofing devices.

Read: Fake Caller ID: Don't Fall for Spoofing Scams

If you or a loved one does answer a suspicious call, exist wary. Some reports suggest that these callers are very compassionate and knowledgeable, which makes them appear credible and trustworthy. In other cases, the callers reportedly speak in heavy, foreign accents and broken English language, making them slightly easier to spot.

Scammers often assemble some basic personal information on their targets similar full names, birthdates and mailing addresses before they even call. This data is used to convince you of their legitimacy and brand you lot feel comfortable with sharing additional sensitive information.

If you ever doubt the validity of a phone call, say yous'd similar to call the person dorsum and ask for their direct number. This will usually prompt a scammer to get flustered and hang up. A legitimate entity will ever respect your desire for privacy and security.

New Medicare Cards

Scams surrounding new Medicare cards are probable to be on the rising since CMS began working on issuing new cards to beneficiaries in Apr 2018. These new cards were issued to amend beneficiaries' protection from identity theft, but the change also provides an excellent opportunity for dishonest people to benefit from confusion surrounding the procedure.

Read: New Medicare Cards to Help Reduce Fraud

Medicare beneficiaries practise NOT need to update their information, pay a fee or take any other activeness to receive or "activate" their new cards. Updated cards were mailed out automatically and the transition has been completed.

Hard Facts About Medicare

Hither are some important things for seniors to know about how Medicare and the Social Security Administration (SSA) office.

  • Medicare generally won't call y'all, except in limited circumstances. One such exception is if you have called 1-800-MEDICARE and requested a return call.
  • Medicare volition never telephone call or come up to your home uninvited to sell products or services.
  • SSA representatives may call Medicare beneficiaries if they demand more information to process applications for Social Security benefits or enrollment in sure Medicare Plans, merely, once again, this is rare.
  • If a phone phone call is needed, y'all'll receive an official letter from the SSA to arrange a telephone interview.
  • Medicare cards practice not expire, so exist wary of someone saying they demand to send yous a new one.
  • If your card is lost or destroyed, contact the SSA directly to request a replacement. If you remember someone else is fraudulently using your Medicare menu, then call Medicare directly at ane-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

How to Protect Yourself from Medicare Scams

Guard your personal information and contact Medicare if y'all have any questions or concerns. A good rule of thumb is not to requite out potentially sensitive information over the Internet or telephone.

However, if you lot accept called to join a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C) or Prescription Drug Plan (Part D), you may be legitimately asked to provide identifying information over the phone. Y'all may also be asked for this information if you lot utilize the online Medicare Programme Finder tool to store for or enroll in Part C or Part D Plans. Be aware that none of these entities should ever ask for financial information like credit card or banking company account numbers over the telephone.

Co-ordinate to Medicare.gov, beneficiaries should only give private information (including their Medicare Number) to their doctors, insurers acting on their behalf, and trusted people in the community who work with Medicare, such equally Country Wellness Insurance Help Programme (SHIP) counselors.

You lot may ever contact the customer service number on the dorsum of your Medicare card if you have any questions or concerns. If you think you may accept provided personal information to a fraudulent caller or believe you are a victim of identity theft, report it to the Federal Merchandise Commission (FTC) online at IdentityTheft.gov or past calling the ID Theft Hotline at 1-877-438-4338.