Robocall scams can often seem random, but that’s not always true. Sometimes, robocalls targeted to older Americans whose Medicare eligibility opens the door to health insurance fraud.
It is essential to know that Medicare does not call you uninvited and ask you for personal or private information. Medicare usually sends a written statement in the mail before you get a phone call from a government agency. Medicare advises that calls you receive requesting health insurance information should not be trusted.
Here are some additional tips from Medicare.gov to help you avoid scammers.
- Never give your Medicare card, Medicare Number, Social Security card, or Social Security Number to anyone except your doctor or people you know who should have it (like insurers acting on your behalf or people who work with Medicare, like your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). Get the contact information for your local SHIP.
- Do NOT accept offers of money or gifts for free medical care.
- Don’t allow anyone, except your doctor or other Medicare providers, to review your medical records or recommend services.
- Never Join a Medicare health or drug plan over the phone unless YOU called Medicare.
- If someone asks you for your information or money or threatens to cancel your health benefits if you don’t share your details, hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or visit medicare.gov.
Additional Tips for Avoiding Scammers
- Don’t answer calls from unknown numbers.
- If you answer and the caller isn’t who you expected, hang up immediately.
- Never give out personal information such as account numbers, Social Security numbers, mother’s maiden name, passwords, or any other self-identifying response to an unexpected call.
- Use caution if you are being pressured for information immediately.
- If a caller claims to represent a health insurance provider or a government agency, hang up. You can then call back using a phone number on an account statement, phone book, or official website to verify the caller’s authenticity.
Don’t be a victim of scammers. Keep these tips in mind, as scammers can be persuasive.