I've heard about Medicare fraud. What steps can I take to protect myself from scams related to Medicare?

Question

Marsha Reiniers · Accepted Answer

To protect against Medicare fraud, be as vigilant a you would with your credit cards and financial accounts. Don't share your information with anyone unless you know exactly who you are talking with. Check your Medicare claims history and use your login at www.Medicare.gov website to review your claims. If you see charges for services you never received - notify Medicare. Be careful of phone calls asking for your private information, your Medicare ID, social security number, etc. These are red flags.

Answered by Marsha Reiniers on April 21, 2025

Agent Licensed in FL, GA, NC, PA, SC & VA

Answered by Marsha Reiniers Medicare Insurance Agent

Lt Col Tim Brown · Answer

Fraud generally comes in the form of waste, fraud and abuse such as providers billing for services not done, or unnecessary tests being preformed, pharmacy meds and others. Deal with licensed agents and brokers providing plans. If you suspect something call the Medicare Hot Line.

Answered by Lt Col Tim Brown on April 19, 2025

Broker Licensed in TN, AL, CO & 10 other states

Answered by Lt Col Tim Brown Medicare Insurance Agent

Tasha Riggs · Answer

If you did not request information about Medicare do not answer the phone for random people who call you out of the Blue about Medicare. 
Only talk to people that you signed a written agreement for them to talk to you. 
I would also google their name they work for. Not the insurance company name and their personal name to see if they have a reputation. 
For instance, If you google my personal name you will see great reviews about me and my team.
If you google each medical company you will get mixed reviews. 
You have to know and trust the person who is giving you recommendations.

Christopher Palazzini · Answer

Never give out your Medicare # to anyone over the phone unless it's your doctors office or agent during Annual Enrollment 10/15-12/7 as long as you are requesting a update/change of insurance.

Terrie Boteler · Answer

If you are concerned about Medicare fraud, there are steps you can protect yourself.
1) Be advised Medicare will never call you.
2) Cold calling is not permitted, so do not give out any personal information unless you initiated the call.

Steven Bleicher · Answer

Be careful by interviewing 2-3 agents before deciding on the best plan for you. There is absolutely no “cookie-cutter” answer with Medicare! It has to do with your health, your family longevity and your pocketbook. In this way, you will obtain varying opinions and get a “feel” for the lack of any hesitation when you are asking pertinent questions.

Answered by Steven Bleicher on May 29, 2025

Broker Licensed in AZ

Answered by Steven Bleicher Medicare Insurance Agent

Timothy Brown · Answer

Don’t give your Medicare information to unsolicited callers trying to entice you into enrolling in a plan by offering benefits that sound too good to be true. These benefits require certain eligibility such as being on both Medicare & Medicaid. One final comment, if anyone claims that they are calling you from or on behalf of Medicare, they are lying. Medicare does not call, text or advertise on social media i.e. Facebook, etc. Mail is the only form of communication for Medicare, Social Security and the IRS.

Answered by Timothy Brown on June 1, 2025

Broker Licensed in PA, CT, DE & 15 other states

Answered by Timothy Brown Medicare Insurance Agent

Christopher Garcia · Answer

It’s very important to understand some basics that will allow you to spot scams and help differentiate them from legitimate calls. Medicare and social security will never call you. They will send letter, however when someone calls asking for you to provide personal private info or stating that they are calling for a legitimate reason you should in my opinion be skeptical. Here are a few tips to help.

1. Always get a name and phone number and ask for a license number from the people who are calling. Ask what company they are with. If they are not a scammer they should have a number where they can be reached directly. 

2. Don’t give private information out over the phone. This information is what scammers are hoping to get. Guard your info and if your concerned that you may be speaking to a scammer simply hang up. 

3. Know some basic rules that apply to medicare sales. Agents are not allowed to solicit medicare beneficiaries without expressed permission. An agent has to have a permission to contact form or a scope of appointment in order to call
you for sales purposes. You can call them directly but the rules protect you from being solicited and knowing that can help you spot scammers or even agents who don’t play by the rules. 

4. Lastly if you have a local agent that you know and trust reach out to them for guidance. They can help educate you on the rules and be used as a resource to help you spot scammers.

Dorothy Lam · Answer

First, know that no one from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), which administers the Medicare program, will ever call on the phone to a Medicare member. All communication is done by mail. Second, if someone claiming to be calling from Medicare does call you, note the phone number and report that to CMS at 800-273-0360.

Also, check over the Explanation of Benefits forms that come to you explaining the medical and prescription claims that have been sent to your plan. Make sure you recognize these charges as your, that is, you remember going to the doctor or filling the listed prescription, as it is listed. If you did not receive those reservices, call the plan to report possible fraud.

There are many unscrupulous advertisers out there who hope you will call a number to get "free information" but intend to direct you to an agent to enroll you in a plan. Look carefully on all printed advertisements for the required statement disclosing a call will give them permissions to connect you with a sales agent. None of these advertisements are from CMS or another government agency, which does offer free information. The advertisements are all intended to sell you a Medicare plan, either an Advantage Plan or a Medicare Supplement plan.

Marcie Barnes · Answer

To prevent being scammed it's in your best interest to have a trusted Medicare agent that you can speak to about anything insurance.

If you encounter a problem ever, you can call 1-800-Medicare.

Karen Ansell · Answer

Over the years Medicare has spent millions of dollars on fraud , waste and abuse from people intentionally deceiving Medicare resources for their own personal gain.
You can take steps to help protect Medicare for the future.

1. Check your Summary of Benefits you receive from Medicare to make sure the charges are correct and that you actually received them.
2. Make sure you have a secure account with Medicare and do not give out your Medicare number to anyone you do not know.
3. Report to 1-800Medicare any charges or supplies you receive that are not correct.

Sonya Chandler · Answer

You can protect yourself from Medicare related scams by not giving out your Medicare information to people who call you on the phone, or by not responding to mail you receive from marketing companies.

Areasha Lockhart · Answer

One big step you can take to avoid Medicare Fraud is to NOT answer the 800 numbers or call any 800 number. If you have a Medicare agent you trust, contact them to ask your questions. You can get scammed pretty easy by calling 800 numbers that can ultimately change your plan without you knowing. This can cause a disruption in your care and cause other delays for your care as well. Find a trusted Medicare Agent to ask your questions. I always tell my clients if they receive mail with 800 numbers that say: "Call today to see if you qualify" or "you can get $2,000 back on your social security check", to bring them into my office and I can make sure they are legit or a scam. I also encourage clients to have their family involved in their care, most of the time the family member can help the understand things. In my office, there is no dumb questions!

Answered by Areasha Lockhart on May 20, 2025

Broker Licensed in CO, IA & ME

Answered by Areasha Lockhart Medicare Insurance Agent

Britania James · Answer

1. Only share personal information with your trusted agent or broker.
2. Never share personal information with solicitors who contact you by phone or email, especially those that claim to be from Social Security. Social Security will only contact you via postal mail.
3. Safeguard your Medicare number. Do not share your Medicare number with anyone except your doctor's office or authorized Medicare agent.
4. Stay away from "free" perks and services in exchange for your personal information. 

*personal information includes your Social Security number, Medicare number, date of birth, financial information, name, address

I've heard about Medicare fraud. What steps can I take to protect myself from scams related to Medicare?

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I've heard about Medicare fraud. What steps can I take to protect myself from scams related to Medicare?

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