Medicare and health insurance scam: how it works, warning signs and what to do
Identity theft · médio
The scammer calls claiming to be from Medicare and asks you to "verify" information, charges a fee for a new card, offers a paid plastic card, or says the card was compromised and you must move money from your bank to a "safer" account. The FTC notes that real Medicare cards are paper, free, and that there are no legitimate plastic cards.
Other approaches include gifts or "free care" in exchange for your Medicare number and plan enrollments over the phone. Medicare states it will never call you to sell you anything or visit you at home, and that it asks for personal information only in limited situations, such as returning a call you made.
Sinais / Signs
- A "Medicare" call selling a product or plan
- A fee charged for a new card
- An offer of a plastic Medicare card
- A request to move money to a "safe" account
- Gifts or free care in exchange for your Medicare number
- Services you never received on your Medicare statement
Prevenção / Prevention
- Share your Medicare number only with your doctor and those who truly need it
- Don't pay for a card: it is free
- Don't join a health or drug plan by phone unless you made the call
- Compare statements against your calendar of appointments
- When in doubt, hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE
O que fazer / What to do
- If you shared bank details, contact your bank immediately
- Report it at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or to the HHS-OIG
- For identity theft, report it at IdentityTheft.gov
- Also report it to the FTC
FAQ
Does Medicare call to sell plans?
No. Medicare says it will never call you to sell you anything or visit you at your home.
Do I need to pay for a new or plastic card?
No. The card is free and, according to the FTC, there are no legitimate plastic Medicare cards.
Medicare.gov - Medicare fraud · FTC - Hang up on Medicare card scams