Medicare Card Scams: New Cards, 'Verify Your Number' Calls and Fees

Use this before you call.

Worried about your Medicare number? Call GetFastRates.com and a licensed agent can point you to the right next step.

Do not give your Medicare number to anyone who contacted you first.

If a caller says you need a new card, hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE yourself.

Never pay anyone for a Medicare card. Replacement cards are free.

Keep your card and your Medicare number somewhere safe, and do not carry your Social Security card.

Check your Medicare statements or your Medicare.gov account for services you did not receive.

If you think your number was used, call 1-800-MEDICARE and see our guide on what to do next.

How the scams work

They start with a call, text or mailer that sounds official, and they all end with your Medicare number or your money.

'We are sending you a new card. Confirm your number.'
'You must verify your Medicare number or your coverage will end.'
'There is a fee for your new plastic card.'
'We need your bank details to deposit a refund.'

Why your number is worth money to them

A Medicare number can be used to bill Medicare for services, equipment or tests you never got. That can mess up your records, and it can leave you with bills or denied claims for things you did not receive. Medicare fraud investigators also see kickbacks, where people are paid or offered something in exchange for a Medicare number.

How to protect your number

Medicare tells people not to give their Medicare card, Medicare number or Social Security number to anyone except their doctor or people they know should have it, such as insurers acting on their behalf or their State Health Insurance Assistance Program.

Say no to anyone offering money or gifts in exchange for your number.
Do not let anyone except your doctor or Medicare providers review your medical records or recommend services.
Read your Medicare statements when they arrive, and check that each service is one you received.

If you need a real replacement card

If your card is lost, stolen or damaged you can ask for a replacement through your Medicare.gov account, by calling 1-800-MEDICARE or through Social Security. A replacement card is free.

Common questions about this topic

Is there a fee for a new Medicare card?

No. Anyone who asks you to pay for a Medicare card is trying to scam you.

Does Medicare ever ask me to confirm my number by phone?

Not on a call they started to sell you something. Medicare only calls you in limited situations, such as returning a call you made.

Who should have my Medicare number?

Your doctors and other Medicare providers, the people who work with Medicare on your behalf such as your State Health Insurance Assistance Program, and a plan or agent you chose and are ready to enroll with.

Related coverage articles

Medicare Scams to Watch For: Calls, Texts, Mail and AdsThe most common Medicare scams, the red flags that show up every time, what real Medicare and real plans do, and where to report. Read this before you answer the next call.I Gave My Medicare Number to a Scammer: What to Do NowIf you shared your Medicare number, Social Security number or bank details with someone you should not have, here is what to do in the first hour, the first week, and over the next months.Someone Called to Sell You Medicare? What the Rules Say and What to DoMedicare plans and agents are generally not allowed to cold call you. Here is what they can and cannot do, how fake and robocalls work, and what to say and do when the phone rings.Free Braces, Genetic Tests and Medical Supplies: Medicare Scams to AvoidUnsolicited free tests, braces and supplies are a common way to steal Medicare numbers. Here is how they work, what the Senior Medicare Patrol warns about, and what to do if you got something you did not order.

Tools that can help

Medicare Enrollment Period CalculatorFind your Medicare enrollment window and what it means for your timing.Medicare Part B Late Enrollment Penalty CalculatorEstimate whether a Part B late enrollment penalty could apply to you.Medicare Plan Ending FinderCheck your carrier and ZIP code against current, verified plan-ending records.

Trusted public sources

These links are provided for general public information. They do not replace a personal coverage review.