Medicare Scam Season: Open Enrollment Fraud, Fake Cards and Verification Steps

Medicare open enrollment fraud usually starts with an unexpected call, text, email, or home visit from someone claiming they need your Medicare Number, Social Security Number, or payment to “activate” a new card or plan. Medicare will never call to sell you something or show up at your home uninvited. If someone contacts you first and asks for your numbers or your money, treat it as a scam until you verify it yourself.

Warning Signs to Watch For First

Any one of these should make you stop and hang up. Several together are close to a guarantee that you’re dealing with a scammer.

A caller says they need your Medicare Number or Social Security Number to send you a “new” card
Someone asks for payment, a gift card, or your bank information to keep your Medicare coverage active
A person shows up at your door offering free medical equipment, screenings, or plan enrollment
You’re pressured to enroll in a plan “right now” over the phone, without time to think it over
Someone threatens that your coverage will be cancelled if you don’t act immediately
You get an unsolicited request for personal or financial information from someone you did not contact first

What Medicare Actually Does — And Doesn’t Do

Knowing how Medicare really operates makes it easier to spot an imposter. According to Medicare.gov, Medicare will never call you to sell you anything or visit your home. Medicare, or someone representing Medicare, will only call and ask for personal information in limited situations, such as an agent returning a call after you’ve already joined a plan, reported fraud yourself, or left a message for Medicare.

Medicare also advises that you should not give your Medicare card, Medicare Number, Social Security card, or Social Security Number to anyone except your doctor or people you already know should have it, such as your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) or an insurer acting on your behalf.

Real Contact vs. Scam Contact, Signal by Signal

Who initiates contact: A real Medicare or SHIP contact happens because you called first, or because someone is following up on a call you already made. A scammer calls, texts, or shows up at your door out of nowhere.
Payment requests: Medicare never asks for payment to keep your coverage active. A scammer demands a gift card, wire transfer, or your bank details.
Your Medicare Number: Medicare doesn’t call to “confirm” your number out of the blue. A scammer insists they need it to send you a “new” card.
Enrollment pressure: A real plan option gives you time to review it before deciding. A scammer pushes you to enroll immediately, on the spot, over the phone.
Home visits: Medicare does not send representatives to your door to sell coverage or supplies. A scammer may show up uninvited offering free equipment or screenings.

Verification Steps: Do This Before You Respond

Hang up or don’t answer. You don’t lose anything by ending the call and calling back through a number you look up yourself.
Call 1-800-MEDICARE yourself. Dial 1-800-633-4227 to ask whether the contact you received is legitimate.
Check your account directly. Log in to your secure Medicare.gov account to review your claims instead of trusting a caller’s version of events.
Contact your local SHIP for enrollment help. Your State Health Insurance Assistance Program offers free, unbiased help comparing plans, so you never need a stranger’s phone pitch.
Never pay to “keep” your coverage. Medicare coverage doesn’t require a surprise payment, gift card, or bank transfer to stay active.

If You Already Shared Your Medicare Number or Sent Money

Acting quickly limits the damage. Medicare.gov points people who suspect their identity was used to commit fraud to file a report through IdentityTheft.gov, which creates a personalized recovery plan. Compare your Medicare statements against your own records so you can flag any service or supply you never received.

How to Report a Suspected Medicare Scam

Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to report suspected fraud on your account
Report Medicare fraud online through the HHS Office of Inspector General’s official reporting tool
If you have a Medicare Advantage or Part D drug plan, you can also contact the Investigations Medicare Drug Integrity Contractor (I-MEDIC) at 1-877-772-3379
Report suspected impersonation of an HHS or HHS-OIG official to the OIG Hotline at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477) or through the OIG’s online complaint form
Contact your local Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) for help gathering evidence and deciding who to report to; find your local SMP at smpresource.org or by calling 1-877-808-2468

Marketplace Enrollment Scams: A Related Pattern

The HHS Office of Inspector General has separately warned consumers about people who ask for money to enroll them in Health Insurance Marketplace coverage. Legitimate enrollment assisters do not ask for payment to sign you up. OIG also flags high-pressure home visits, mail solicitations, emails, and calls from people pretending to represent the government, along with anyone who threatens legal action if you don’t enroll. If someone comes to your door, always ask for identification before discussing your coverage or personal information.

Who Should Be Extra Careful

Some groups are targeted more often and benefit from extra caution during open enrollment: people newly eligible for Medicare who may not yet recognize how the program actually contacts them; older adults living alone who may not have someone to double-check a suspicious call with; caregivers managing a family member’s Medicare account, who should watch for statements listing services the person never received; and anyone who has recently changed plans, since scammers sometimes use a real enrollment window to make a fake follow-up call sound believable.

Evidence Limits

This guide reflects Medicare.gov and HHS Office of Inspector General consumer guidance current as of this writing. It does not cover every scam variation, and tactics change. It cannot tell you whether a specific call, letter, or charge in your situation is fraud — that requires contacting Medicare, your SHIP, or the OIG directly. This is not legal, financial, or medical advice, and it does not replace direct contact with your health care provider or a qualified professional about your specific coverage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Medicare ever call me to sell me a plan or supplies?

No. Medicare.gov states that Medicare will never call you to sell you anything or visit your home. Real contact happens in limited situations, such as returning a call you made first.

Do I need to pay anything to keep my Medicare coverage active?

No. There is no legitimate reason you’d need to send a gift card, wire transfer, or bank information over the phone to keep your coverage from being cancelled.

Who can help me compare Medicare plans without a sales pitch?

Your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) offers free, unbiased plan counseling. You can find local contact information through shiphelp.org.

Where do I report a Medicare scam call?

Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or report it online through the HHS Office of Inspector General. If someone claimed to be an HHS or OIG official, report that separately to the OIG Hotline at 1-800-HHS-TIPS.

Educational Disclaimer

This article is for general educational purposes only and is not medical, legal, or financial advice. It does not diagnose any condition and does not replace direct contact with Medicare, your health plan, or a qualified professional. Always verify your specific situation using official government resources, including medicare.gov and oig.hhs.gov.