Is Your Medicare Plan Safe? What to Check Before You Compare and Choose

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Is Your Medicare Plan Safe? What to Check Before You Compare and Choose

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Don't share your Medicare number over the phone or text. Medicare will never ask you this.

Medicare is a big target for scammers. Every year during Open Enrollment (October 15–December 7), they step up: they call, send letters, and make look-alike websites. Their goal is simple — to get your Medicare number and your money by pretending it’s a routine check or a “special offer.” The risky part is how normal it sounds — “confirm your details,” “update your card,” “get free medicines.”

These tricks work by rushing you and using your trust. That’s why every adult should treat this Medicare season like a crosswalk. So let’s find out how these scams work, when they spike, and how to stay safe.

When Medicare Scams Strike (Hang This on Your Fridge)

  • Oct 15–Early November: Heavy calling + ads + emails.
  • Mid-Season: “Limited-time upgrade” and “free benefit” pitches reach their peak.
  • Last 10 days (late Nov–Dec 7): High-pressure “act now or lose coverage” scams.
  • After Dec 7: “Correction” and “re-enrollment” scams pop up.

The Scammer Playbook — Step By Step

Pattern to watch for in every scam: First contact → Pressure → Hook → The ask → Take → Charge.

1) “We’re From Medicare” (imposter call)

How this scam works:

  1. First contact. Scammers call and your screen says “Medicare,” a local clinic, or “Benefits Dept.” In reality, caller ID is spoofed — the name/number can be faked in seconds.

  2. Pressure. “We’re updating your file / issuing a new chip card / verifying your plan today.” They say it’s routine but must be done right now.

  3. Hook. “If we don’t confirm, your coverage will pause.” The threat of losing benefits makes you act fast.

  4. The ask. They say, “Please confirm your Medicare number.” Then they stack more details — date of birth, SSN, bank info, even “the one-time code we just texted so I can unlock your record.” That code is your 2-step verification; reading it lets them break in.

  5. Take. While you talk, they record a clear read-out of your Medicare number/card photos. That’s how they enter accounts or reset passwords.

  6. Charge. Using your Medicare number, they submit fake claims or enroll you in plans you never chose.

What you’ll notice later:

  • EOBs (Explanation of Benefits) for services you never had.
  • Strange plan changes you didn’t authorize.
  • Pharmacies/doctors saying your plan changed.

What to do:

  • Hang up and call 1-800-633-4227 (Medicare) to verify.
  • Report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

2) “Free Benefit” Pitch (genetic tests, braces, diabetic supplies)

How this scam works:

  1. First contact. They call you or send an email saying, “Good news! You qualify for a free genetic test/braces/medical supplies.”

  2. Pressure (the fake “doctor” step). They quickly connect you to some “telehealth doctor” on the phone. The goal isn’t your health — it’s to get a checkbox that says a doctor “approved” something. That paper makes their billing look legit.

  3. The ask. They say, “I just need your Medicare number to check eligibility and ship free medical equipment.” That number is the key that lets them bill Medicare in your name.

  4. Take. Using your number and that fake approval, they send very expensive bills to Medicare for tests or equipment you didn’t need — sometimes for things you never even received.

  5. Charge. Once your number works, they share or sell it. More companies start billing you too. The fraud repeats until you stop it.

What you’ll notice:

  • An Explanation of Benefits letter or online statement from Medicare/your plan showing charges in your name. It might list things like “genetic test panel,” “orthotic brace,” or “telehealth visit” from a clinic you’ve never heard of, on a date you weren’t treated.

What to do:

  • Call your doctor to confirm nothing was ordered.
  • Call 1-800-633-4227 to report this case.
A man typing on laptop - Medicare scams warning
During Open Enrollment, slow down and verify every offer you get.

3) Fake Medicare “Comparison” Sites

How this scam works:

  1. First contact. You search for Medicare plans. An ad or post looks exactly like Medicare.gov: “Top Plans Near You,” “Official Finder”.

  2. Pressure. Before you see any plans, the page asks for your name, date of birth, phone, email — sometimes even your Medicare number.

  3. Take. This data is sold to multiple marketers/brokers; you start getting constant calls and texts from different “plan specialists.” Some will make pushy or misleading claims to keep you on the line.

  4. Charge. A fake plan specialist tries to enroll you on the call — often into whatever plan pays them best, not what’s best for you. In some cases they’ll push through a change with the scraps of info you gave.

What you’ll notice:

  • Flood of calls/texts from different “plan specialists.”
  • Surprise plan changes if you gave consent info on a call.

What to do:

  • Never click plan ads. Type Medicare.gov yourself or call 1-800-MEDICARE.
  • If you already filled out a form, don’t answer unknown numbers for a while; block and report them.

4) “Coverage Problem” Email or Text

How the scam works:

  1. First contact. You get a scary message or email that says: “Card suspended,” “Fix plan now,” “Payment failed.”

  2. Pressure. You tap the link and it opens a page that looks exactly like Medicare — same colors, logo, wording. It wants your Medicare username/password, or card/bank info “to restore coverage.”

  3. Take. The site you visit is fake. The moment you type, scammers save your login and payment details.

  4. Charge. They sign in as you, change your account, steal benefits, or charge money. Some pages also try to install viruses.

What you’ll notice:

  • Password reset emails you didn’t ask for.
  • Account changes or new plan activity.

What to do:

  • Don’t click. Go to Medicare.gov by typing it in; check your account there.
  • Turn on 2-step verification in MyMedicare.
  • If you clicked/logged in, change the password immediately and call 1-800-MEDICARE to review your record.

5) The Broker Who Won’t Let You Go 

How the scam works:

  1. First contact. You get a call or text out of the blue with this message: “I’m your local Medicare specialist. You can get a new Medicare plan at a special price” But you never asked for this communication.

  2. Pressure. You hear a confident voice, “recorded line,” lots of jargon: “I can lock this price now — I just need your Medicare number.”

  3. Take. Using your number + your recorded “yes,” scammers enroll you in a plan that pays them more — maybe with different doctors or drug rules.

  4. Charge. A new ID card arrives, the pharmacy says your plan changed, your ‘doctor’ is suddenly out of network, or meds now need prior authorization.

What you’ll notice:

  • New ID cards or plan letters you didn’t request.
  • Your pharmacist says your plan changed.

What to do:

  • Call 1-800-MEDICARE to verify your current plan and undo unauthorized changes.
  • Report the scammer to the FTC. 
Laptop email inbox showing a “Scam Alert” warning
Don’t click urgent links —verify the sender, then delete or report the fake email.

Spot the Scam Easily — Quick Cheat Sheet 

Red Flag                   What it sounds likeWhat to do
First contact“We’re from Medicare — confirm your number.”Hang up. Call 1-800-MEDICARE yourself.
Pressure“Tonight only or you’ll lose coverage.”Pressure = scam. No one loses Medicare overnight.
The ask“No cost to you — just your Medicare ID.” Hang up, ask your doctor and report this issue.

Simple 5-Minute Rules That Block 90% of Problems

  1. Write two numbers on a card: Medicare: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) and your doctor’s office. Use only these to ask plan questions.

  2. Check your Medicare.gov account so no one else can. (Strong password, 2-step verification.)

  3. Review your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) and list your medications — this is the safe starting point.

  4. Choose a helper you trust (adult child, partner). Agree that when a call feels off, you’ll hang up and call back using the official number.

  5. Silence unknown callers on your phone. Let voicemail screen; scammers rarely leave helpful details.

Keep Scammers Out of Your Medicare Plan

When the noise gets loud, your pace is your protection. Medicare choices aren’t a sprint, and anyone who tries to speed you up is telling you who they are.

Keep decisions inside your circle of trust, and treat every “quick confirmation” like a withdrawal from your benefits account. 

If you remember one rule from this letter, let it be this: slow is safe, and safe is how you keep your plan — and your identity — yours.