Medicare fraud costs taxpayers billions a year, and scammers go after your Medicare Number to bill for care you never got. Here's the one rule that stops most of it: Medicare will never call you out of the blue to sell you something or ask for your number. This guide shows you how to guard your card, spot the common scams, catch fraud on your statements, and report it.
Guard your Medicare Number like a credit card
Your Medicare card is the key to your benefits. A scammer with your Medicare Number can bill Medicare for fake services in your name.
Treat the number the way you'd treat a credit card. Give it only to people who should have it: your doctors, your pharmacist, your insurer, and trusted providers who treat you. Carry the card when you need it for a medical visit. Otherwise, keep it somewhere safe at home.
Never give your Medicare Number, Social Security Number, or bank details to someone who contacts you first. That's the line. Real Medicare business doesn't start with a surprise phone call.
The scams to watch for
Most Medicare scams run the same play. Someone offers you something free, or claims to be from Medicare, and the price is always your Medicare Number. Here are the ones that show up most.
| The pitch | What they want | Why it's a scam |
|---|---|---|
| "Free" back brace, knee brace, or other equipment | Your Medicare Number to "ship" it | They bill Medicare for costly equipment you don't need |
| "Free" genetic or DNA cancer test | Your Medicare Number and a cheek swab | They bill Medicare thousands for a test your doctor never ordered |
| "Free" COVID or flu test kits mailed to you | Your Medicare Number to "qualify" | Unsolicited kits in exchange for your number are a billing scam |
| Caller "from Medicare" verifying your number | Your Medicare or Social Security Number | Medicare already has your number and never cold-calls for it |
| "We're issuing you a new Medicare card" | Your current number, SSN, or a fee | Medicare doesn't charge for cards or call to reissue them |
| Pushy plan-enrollment pitch by phone or at your door | Your number plus a signature | Real plans can't enroll you through unsolicited contact |
The common thread: free gear, a "verification," or a new card, all in exchange for your number. When the request comes to you uninvited, it's a scam.
Check your statements for fraud
The fastest way to catch fraud is to read what Medicare pays out in your name. Two documents show you that.
If you have Original Medicare, you get a Medicare Summary Notice every three months listing the services and equipment billed to your number. If you have a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, your plan sends an Explanation of Benefits that does the same.
Read each one against the care you actually received. Check the dates, the providers, and the services. Watch for three things:
- Charges for services or equipment you never got
- The same service billed twice
- A provider's name you don't recognize
You don't have to wait three months. Set up a free secure account at Medicare.gov and you can view Original Medicare claims as soon as they process. Checking early means you catch a problem while it's small.
Report fraud the moment you spot it
Found something wrong? Report it. You don't need proof it's fraud, just a reason to question a charge.
- Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) for any Medicare question or to report a suspect charge. Start here. See reporting Medicare fraud for what to have ready.
- Call the HHS OIG fraud hotline at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477), or file online. This is the federal watchdog for healthcare fraud.
Before you call, pull your Medicare card, your statement, and the date you noticed the problem. That's enough to start.
Get free help from the Senior Medicare Patrol
You don't have to sort this out alone. The Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) is a free program in every state that helps people detect, prevent, and report Medicare fraud.
SMP counselors will sit down with you, walk through a confusing statement, and help you decide whether something is a billing error or a scam. The service costs nothing.
Find your local SMP at smpresource.org or call 1-877-808-2468.
When someone steals your medical identity
Medical identity theft happens when someone uses your Medicare Number or personal information to get care or bill Medicare in your name. It's the end goal of most of the scams above.
The damage isn't just financial. Fraudulent billing can clutter your records with treatments and diagnoses that aren't yours, and that can affect your real care down the line.
If you suspect it, act fast:
- Report it to 1-800-MEDICARE and the HHS OIG hotline right away.
- Keep checking your Medicare Summary Notice or Explanation of Benefits for more bad charges.
- Watch your other accounts, since a thief with your information may not stop at Medicare.
When fraud crosses your Medicare and Medicaid coverage, or affects a plan that pays after Medicare, knowing how the programs interact helps. See the guide on coordination of benefits.
Frequently asked questions
Medicare may return a call you started, or a plan you joined may contact you about your own enrollment. But Medicare does not call you out of the blue to sell coverage or ask for your Medicare Number, Social Security Number, or bank information. An unsolicited call asking for those is a scam.
Yes. Your providers, pharmacy, and insurer need your number to bill correctly. The danger is giving it to someone who contacts you first, especially anyone offering free equipment, tests, or a new card.
Report it to 1-800-MEDICARE and the HHS OIG hotline at 1-800-HHS-TIPS as soon as you can. Then watch your Medicare Summary Notice or Explanation of Benefits closely for charges you don't recognize, and contact your Senior Medicare Patrol for help.
You don't need to be sure. If a charge looks wrong, call 1-800-MEDICARE or your Senior Medicare Patrol and ask. Many reports turn out to be honest billing errors, and catching those still matters.
No. The Senior Medicare Patrol is free in every state, and reporting fraud to Medicare or the HHS OIG costs nothing.
Learn More
- What Is Medicare? Parts A, B, C, and D explained
- Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage
- How coordination of benefits works
Find personalized help protecting yourself from Medicare fraud at brevy.com.
The information on Brevy.com is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal, financial, or medical advice. Rules vary by state and program and change frequently. Always verify with the relevant agency or a qualified professional. Brevy is not a law firm, financial advisor, or healthcare provider.