GetFastRates.com

Medicare Scams to Watch For: Calls, Texts, Mail and Ads

The 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.

Medicare6 min readReviewed 2026-10-16

Call 855-367-1095 Make an appointment

Short answer

Medicare will never call you to sell you anything or visit your home. A real plan or licensed agent does not need your Medicare number, bank account or card number just to give you a quote. If a call, text, mailer or ad promises free money, gifts or a new Medicare card, pushes you to act today, or says you will lose coverage unless you do, treat it as a scam until you have checked it yourself using a phone number you looked up, not one the caller gave you.

Use this before you call.

Not sure if a call or offer is real? Call GetFastRates.com and a licensed agent will tell you what to check, with no pressure.

Hang up, do not press any number and do not call back the number that called you.

Do not give your Medicare number, Social Security number, bank account or card number to anyone who contacted you first.

Look up the real number yourself (1-800-MEDICARE is 1-800-633-4227) and ask whether the call was real.

Write down the number, the date, the time and what they said, in case you need to report it.

Report it to 1-800-MEDICARE or the Federal Trade Commission, and tell a family member.

If you want real help comparing plans, call us and a licensed agent will go over your options with no pressure.

The scams we hear about most

Scammers copy whatever people are talking about. These are the versions that come up again and again.

Food cards, grocery cards and 'free money' ads that say you qualify for a benefit card or thousands of dollars if you call now
Calls about a 'new Medicare card' or a request to 'verify' your Medicare number so you do not lose coverage
Free braces, genetic tests and medical supplies offered by phone, mail, at a mall or at a health fair
Someone claiming to be from Medicare or Social Security and asking for a payment, a fee or your bank details
Fake refunds or rebates that need your account number to send the money
Open enrollment pressure: 'last chance to switch', 'your plan is ending', 'act today'

Red flags that show up every time

If you see even one of these, slow down.

You did not ask for the contact. Plans and agents generally cannot call you unless you are already a member or gave them permission.
They ask for your Medicare number, Social Security number or bank details before they have told you anything useful.
They offer cash, a gift card or a prepaid card to get you to join, or to 'claim' something.
They say you must decide today, or that you will lose coverage if you hang up.
They will not tell you the name of the plan, the company they work for or their license number.
They ask you to pay over the phone. A real plan sends a bill.

What real Medicare and real plans do

Medicare will only call and ask for personal information in limited situations, such as returning a call you made, after you have joined a plan, after you reported fraud, or after you left a message. People who represent plans are not allowed to ask for your personal information over the phone unless it is needed to process an enrollment you asked for, and plans do not need that information to give you a quote.

They can send you information in writing and let you decide in your own time.
They do not require you to speak with a sales agent just to get plan information.
Independent agents and brokers must be licensed by the state, and the plan must tell the state which agents sell its plans.

Where to report it

Reporting helps stop it from happening to someone else. You do not need proof, only what you remember.

1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227)
For Medicare Advantage or drug plan fraud, the Investigations Medicare Drug Integrity Contractor at 1-877-7SAFERX (1-877-772-3379)
The Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov
Your Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) at 1-877-808-2468, which helps people spot and report Medicare fraud

Common questions about this topic

Will Medicare ever call me?

Not to sell you anything. Medicare, or someone representing Medicare, will only call you in limited situations: when they are returning a call you made, after you joined a plan, after you reported fraud, or after you left a message for Medicare.

Is it safe to give my Medicare number to an agent?

Only to people you know should have it, and only when you are ready to enroll or are working with someone you contacted. A real agent can show you plans and prices without it. Never give it to someone who called you out of the blue.

How can I tell if a caller is real?

Hang up and look up the official number yourself. Caller ID can be faked, so a number that looks local or official does not prove anything. If it was really Medicare or your plan, they will take your call when you call them.

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.

Call now or request a callback.

Calling is fastest. If you cannot call right now, send a request and keep your coverage questions handy for the callback.

GetFastRates.com is free to use. There is no cost to call 855-367-1095, request help, or speak with a licensed insurance agent through this service. "Free" describes GetFastRates' help -- not the price of insurance, coverage, premiums, or a plan.