Scam calls impersonating Medicare cost American seniors billions every year. This guide shows you exactly how to recognize, stop, and report them.
Does Medicare ever call you to ask for your Medicare number?
No. Medicare will almost never call you unsolicited, and it will never call to ask for your Medicare number, Social Security number, or bank or credit card details. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), if you did not request a call, any caller demanding personal information is a scammer. Medicare already has your number on file. The only times Medicare may call are if you are a current member and have given express permission, or if you have an open enrollment request. Treat any other call asking you to 'confirm' or 'reactivate' your number as fraud. When in doubt, hang up and call 1-800-MEDIGAP.
What are the most common Medicare phone scam tactics in 2026?
Scammers evolve constantly, but the playbook stays familiar. Common Medicare phone scams include: offers for 'free' braces, genetic-testing kits, or catheters that require your Medicare number; claims that you need a 'new' plastic or chip Medicare card; threats that your benefits will be canceled unless you verify information; and fake calls during Open Enrollment (October 15 to December 7) pushing you to switch plans on the spot. AI voice-cloning now lets scammers sound like a real agency. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported that older adults filed over 100,000 fraud reports tied to imposter scams in a single recent year. If a caller pressures or rushes you, that urgency is the tell.
How can you tell a real Medicare call from a scam?
Real Medicare communication is patient, written, and never demands instant payment. Red flags of a scam call include: requests for your Medicare, Social Security, or banking numbers; threats of losing coverage; demands for gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency; caller ID 'spoofing' that shows an official-looking number; and a sense of urgency. A legitimate question can wait while you hang up and call back on a number you trust. Medicare communicates most official business by U.S. mail. If you are unsure whether a benefit or plan offer is real, do not give information over the phone. Verify it independently by calling 1-800-MEDICARE or speaking with a licensed agent at 1-800-MEDIGAP.
What should you do if you gave a scammer your information?
Act fast, and do not be embarrassed. If you shared your Medicare number, watch your Medicare Summary Notices for charges you do not recognize and report them to 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). If you gave your Social Security number, place a free credit freeze with all three bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) and visit IdentityTheft.gov to build a recovery plan. If you sent money, contact your bank or the gift-card issuer immediately, file a report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, and call the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-372-8311. The sooner you report, the better the odds of limiting damage and helping investigators stop the ring.
Where do you report Medicare scam phone calls?
Report Medicare phone scams to several places so the right agency can act. Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to report misuse of your Medicare number. File a report with the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Contact the HHS Office of Inspector General hotline at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477) for suspected Medicare fraud. For elder fraud broadly, call the Department of Justice National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-372-8311. You can also notify your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) and the Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP). Reporting is free and helps protect other seniors. For one-on-one help understanding a suspicious call, call 1-800-MEDIGAP.