Medicare Office: Home Calls?

Medicare and Social Security will never call you at home to collect any information. Instead, they will send you a letter in the mail. This is to protect your personal information and maintain your privacy. If there is an issue with your benefits or they require additional information, you will receive a letter in the mail. This procedure ensures that you have ample time to review the information and respond appropriately.

Medicare will never call to sell you something

Medicare will never call you to sell you something. If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from Medicare and they try to sell you something, it is a scam. Medicare and Social Security have strict communication protocols to protect your personal information and maintain your privacy. They will never call you to request personal or private information. Instead, they will send you a letter in the mail.

Medicare will only call you in the following situations:

• A Medicare health or drug plan provider may call you if you’re already a member of the plan. The agent who helped you join might also call you.
• A customer service representative from 1-800-MEDICARE can call you if you’ve called and left a message or a representative said that someone would call you back.
• If you filed a report of suspected fraud, you may get a call from someone representing Medicare to follow up on your investigation.

Medicare scam calls are one of the most common ways that criminals try to steal your sensitive health information. Here are some examples of common Medicare scam calls:

• Medicare is issuing new cards, and your old one is invalid.
• Your Medicare is about to be canceled, and you need to “verify” your identity.
• You can receive early access to special vaccines.
• You need to confirm your appointment for free genetic testing.
• You qualify for free medical supplies.
• You’re eligible for a refund for overpayment of benefits.
• You’re pre-approved for a cheaper or better plan.
• American Senior Benefits is calling.
• Senior aid helper scam calls.

If you receive a Medicare scam call, here’s what to do:

• Don’t give out your personal information.
• Hang up the phone.
• Report the scam call.
• Warn your friends and family.

Medicare will never ask for your Medicare number over the phone

Medicare will only call you in limited situations, such as if you are already a member of a Medicare health or drug plan, or if you have called and left a message. Medicare will also call you if you have filed a report of suspected fraud. In these cases, a Medicare representative may ask for personal information.

However, if you receive an unsolicited call claiming to be from Medicare, asking for your Medicare number, this is almost certainly a scam. These calls might try to sell you something, confirm your Medicare number, or claim that you are eligible for "free" services or equipment. These are red flags that should immediately make you suspicious.

Medicare scammers may already have some of your personal information, which they use to gain your trust before asking you to "confirm" your Medicare number. They may also try to sell you a “better” or "free" Medicare plan, lie about health insurance plans, or convince you to enrol in a specific plan.

If you receive a scam call, hang up immediately and do not press any numbers or follow any prompts, as this could lead to more robocalls. You can also block the number and report the call to Medicare or the FCC. To prevent these calls, you can add your phone number to the FTC's National Do Not Call Registry.

Medicare will never request personal or private information

Medicare and Social Security have strict communication protocols to protect your personal information and maintain your privacy. They will not call you to request personal or private information. Instead, they will send you a letter in the mail. This ensures that you have time to review the information and respond appropriately. It also provides a physical document that you can use for reference or to verify the request with the appropriate agency.

Medicare and Social Security will also never threaten to cancel your benefits if you do not provide information over the phone. This method is commonly used by scammers. If you receive a call like this, it is likely fraudulent.

Additionally, Medicare and Social Security will not send unsolicited emails requesting personal information. Any email communication from these agencies should be expected and part of ongoing correspondence. If you receive an unexpected email that appears to be from Medicare or Social Security, do not click any links or download any attachments. Instead, contact the respective agency directly to verify the email.

Medicare and Social Security have secure online portals at MyMedicare.gov and My Social Security, where you can view personal information, benefits, and make necessary changes. These platforms are encrypted and secure, ensuring the safety of your information. However, always ensure you are visiting the official sites by checking the URLs and avoid clicking through from emails or unsolicited website pop-ups.

If you need to reach out to Medicare, the official phone number is 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). For TTY users, the number is 1-877-486-2048. These lines are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Remember, Medicare will never call to sell you anything or ask for your Medicare number over the phone. If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from Medicare requesting personal information, hang up and contact Medicare directly using the official phone number provided above.

Medicare will always send a letter in the mail before calling

Medicare will never call to sell you anything or ask for your Medicare number over the phone. If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from Medicare, it is likely a scam. These callers may try to create a sense of urgency to get you to act fast and give up sensitive information without thinking first. They may also use phone spoofing technology to manipulate your Caller ID into displaying that they are calling from Medicare or a local phone number.

If you receive a suspicious call, hang up immediately. Do not press any numbers or follow any prompts, as this could lead to more robocalls. You can also invest in a robocall blocking app or service to reduce the number of unwanted calls you receive. Additionally, register your phone number on the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) National Do Not Call Registry to restrict sales calls.

If you suspect fraud, report it to the FTC online or by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP. Be prepared to provide details about the call, including the date, time, phone number, and any information the caller provided. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE if you have any questions or concerns about Medicare.

Medicare will never threaten to cancel your coverage

Medicare has strict communication protocols in place to protect your personal information and maintain your privacy. They will not call you to sell you anything or ask for your Medicare number over the phone. They will also not threaten to cancel your benefits if you do not provide information over the phone.

If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from Medicare and they ask for personal information or threaten to cancel your coverage, hang up and call Medicare directly at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to report the scam. You can also add your phone number to the FTC's National Do Not Call Registry to mitigate unwanted sales calls.

It's important to be vigilant and protect yourself from Medicare scams. Never give your Medicare number, Social Security number, or other personal information to anyone except your doctor or authorized insurers or Medicare workers. Be cautious of unsolicited calls, especially if they are asking for sensitive information. If you're unsure, hang up and call Medicare directly to confirm.

If you do accidentally give out personal information to a scammer, act quickly to minimize any damage. File an identity theft report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and contact your bank and credit card companies to cancel any affected accounts.

Remember, Medicare will never threaten to cancel your coverage. They will always send you a written notice first and will never ask for personal information over the phone. If you receive a suspicious call, hang up and report it to Medicare or the FTC.

Frequently asked questions