Five Common Medicare Scams in 2024

A Medicare scam is a type of identity theft, targeting seniors, in which someone attempts to scam Medicare recipients into giving them personal information including Social Security numbers and bank account information. These scams typically start with the caller stating that they are from Medicare and need to confirm your personal information in order to send you something or prevent loss of coverage.

Please remember that Medicare will never call you on the phone unsolicited. If you call them first, they may call you back, but they will never phone you to offer new cards or discounts, or to tell you that your coverage is going to expire or be cut off.

The Five Most common Medicare Scams of 2024 are:

1. New Medicare cards

Thieves may call saying they need to send you a new card possibly claiming: your card has expired, or they they have new cards with chips, or there is a new gold card. 

2. Offers of cheaper or better plans

Thieves will try to offer people cheaper supplementary plans or drug coverage that Medicare doesn’t provide in order to get your information.

3. Refund or rebate offers

Scammers can try to convince you that refunds and rebates are available if you sign up for another service or confirm your billing details.

4. Medicare plan cancellation

Scammers commonly try to get your personal information is by threatening the cancellation of your Medicare benefits.

5. Offers of free medical supplies or tests

Some scams offer free or steeply discounted medical equipment or testing if you simply provide them with your Medicare number or Social Security number. 

Tips to avoid Medicare Scams:

• Don’t give out identifying information

• Don’t answer calls from unknown numbers

• Only let doctors view your medical records

• Don’t accept “free” supplies, tests, or equipment

• Keep a close eye on your Medicare account

• Safely store and dispose of data