Medicare Scams Are Surging Ahead of Open Enrollment

Medicare open enrollment, when beneficiaries can change their Medicare Advantage or prescription drug coverage, doesn’t begin until Oct. 15. But scammers are already on the prowl.

One recent retiree told Scripps News that she receives more than a dozen Medicare-related calls a day despite being on the Do Not Call Registry. The pitches vary but they usually have the same goal: getting your Medicare number or other personal information. Scammers may claim they need to verify your Medicare number, offer a new plastic or gold Medicare card or even promise free medical equipment or genetic testing.

Meanwhile, more than 40 health systems have reportedly warned patients about a “MyChart Medicare Kit” scam spreading through texts and emails. MyChart, a widely-used patient portal, lets people view test results and bills, schedule care and communicate with their doctors. The scheme starts with a message that appears to come from this legitimate health care service, but is designed to get recipients to engage and steal their information.

Medicare scams aren’t anything new or limited to open enrollment season, which runs from mid October through Dec. 7. But while fraudsters target beneficiaries year-round, the volume tends to ramp up during this time of year, when legitimate insurers and Medicare Advantage plans are also reaching out to Americans enrolled in Medicare.

How to protect yourself from Medicare scams

If someone unexpectedly asks for your Medicare number, hang up immediately or ignore the message. This is the biggest red flag that you are being targeted by a scam, because the government won’t request your number out of the blue. Medicare says it will call, text or email to ask for personal information only in limited circumstances, such as returning a call after you contacted Medicare, reported fraud or left a message.

The same goes for calls promising a new Medicare card. Remember that new or replacement Medicare cards are free, so anyone demanding payment for one is trying to scam you.

Don’t blindly trust caller ID — fraudsters can make it seem like a call is coming from Medicare or another familiar organization. They can also purchase or otherwise obtain personal details, like your date of birth and address, to try fooling you. Instead, if you have questions, contact Medicare yourself at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

As for the MyChart scam, don’t click on any messages from the service promising “free” health offers or use the contact information it provides. Instead, open your health portal directly through the MyChart app or website to check any account changes or offers.

Medicare recommends regularly checking your claims and statements for services you don’t recognize, which can help reveal if someone is already misusing your information. For additional advice and support, you can also call the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 877-908-3360 to report suspected fraud.