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Someone Called to Sell You Medicare? What the Rules Say and What to Do

Medicare 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.

Medicare5 min readReviewed 2026-10-16
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Short answer

Under Medicare's marketing rules, people who represent Medicare plans are not allowed to call you unless you are already a member of the plan or you gave them permission to contact you. They cannot come to your home uninvited, ask for payment over the phone, or ask for personal information over the phone unless it is needed to process an enrollment you asked for. If an unexpected caller does any of this, hang up. You can report it to 1-800-MEDICARE.

Use this before you call.

Want to talk to a licensed agent on your own terms? Call GetFastRates.com. You decide what happens next.

Do not answer questions or press buttons. Say 'Please remove me from your list' and hang up.

Ask for the plan name, the company and the agent's name and license number, and do not give yours.

Never agree to join a plan over the phone unless you called and asked for help.

Add your number to the National Do Not Call Registry at donotcall.gov.

Report unwanted or misleading calls to 1-800-MEDICARE or the Federal Trade Commission.

If you want a plan review, call a licensed agent yourself so you are in control of the conversation.

What plans and agents are not allowed to do

These are the rules for people representing Medicare health and drug plans, as Medicare.gov describes them.

  • Call you unless you are already a member of the plan or you gave permission to be contacted
  • Come to your home uninvited to sell or endorse anything
  • Ask for personal information such as bank account or card numbers over the phone unless it is needed to process an enrollment request
  • Ask you for payment over the phone or online. The plan must send you a bill.
  • Offer cash, or gifts above a small value limit, to join, or give you free meals during a sales pitch
  • Require you to speak to a sales agent to get information about the plan
  • Sell you a non-health product such as an annuity or life insurance during a Medicare plan sales pitch

What counts as permission

Permission is a real thing, and it is easy to give without noticing. If you called a number, filled out a request form online, or returned a card in the mail asking for information, a call back about that request is expected. The permission only covers what you asked about, and an agent who wants to talk about other plans needs your agreement first.

  • Read the small print on any online form that asks for your phone number.
  • You can withdraw permission at any time by telling the caller to stop.

Fake numbers and robocalls

Caller ID can be faked, so a call that looks like it comes from your area, from Medicare or from a company you know proves nothing. Sales robocalls with recorded voices generally need your written permission, so a recorded pitch you did not ask for is a red flag by itself.

  • Do not press a number to 'opt out' or 'speak to someone'. It confirms your number is live.
  • Hang up and call the real number yourself if you are worried about a plan or account.
  • Let unknown numbers go to voicemail. Real callers leave a message.

When you did ask for a call

If you called a number or requested help yourself, a licensed agent can help you compare plans. You are still in charge: you can ask for information in writing, take your time, and say no.

Common questions about this topic

Can a Medicare agent call me about other plans after I enroll?

The agent who helped you join a plan can call you about other plan options after the enrollment. A different, unknown caller generally cannot.

Do I have to talk to a sales agent to get plan information?

No. Medicare's rules say plans cannot require you to speak with a sales agent to get information about the plan.

What if I already joined something over the phone?

Call 1-800-MEDICARE and explain what happened. Medicare's own guidance says you should not join a plan over the phone unless you called and asked for help, and customer service can help you with your options.

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.Medicare Card Scams: New Cards, 'Verify Your Number' Calls and FeesMedicare never charges for your card and never calls to confirm your number to keep your coverage. Here is how the new-card and verify-your-number scams work and how to protect your Medicare number.Medicare Open Enrollment Scams and Pressure Tactics: What Is Real and What Is NotMedicare open enrollment runs October 15 to December 7, and that is when scam calls and look-alike mailers peak. Here are the real dates, the pressure lines to ignore and how to compare plans safely.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.

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.

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