Medicare does not call you unsolicited

Medicare will not call you out of the blue to verify information, update your account, or tell you that you owe money. If someone calls claiming to be from Medicare and you did not contact them first, it is a scam. Real Medicare contact happens when you call them, when you respond to mail they sent you, or when a doctor's office or hospital calls about your care.

Scammers use the Medicare name because it is trusted and because they know older adults have Medicare accounts. They may sound professional, use real Medicare jargon, or claim there is an urgent problem with your account. The goal is usually to get your Social Security number, Medicare number, or bank details.

Key Takeaways

  • Medicare never calls you first — if someone calls claiming to be from Medicare without you calling them, hang up when ready.
  • Scammers often claim there is a problem with your account, a duplicate charge, or that you need to update your information to keep your coverage.
  • Real Medicare contact comes through the mail, through your doctor's office, or when you call Medicare yourself at 1-800-MEDICARE.
  • If you are unsure whether a call is real, hang up and call Medicare directly at the number on your Medicare card or official mail.
  • Report scam calls to the Office of Inspector General at 1-800-HHS-TIPS or online at oig.hhs.gov.

Common scam calls and what they claim

Scammers posing as Medicare typically use one of a few scripts. They may say your Medicare number has been suspended or compromised and you need to verify it when ready. They may claim there is a duplicate charge on your account or that you are owed a refund. They may say you need to update your banking information to receive a payment. Some claim to be from a "Medicare fraud department" investigating suspicious activity on your account.

A real Medicare employee will never ask you to confirm your full Social Security number, Medicare number, or bank account details over the phone. They will not threaten to suspend your coverage or tell you that you must act within the hour. They will not ask you to pay a fee or buy a gift card. If a caller uses any of these tactics, it is a scam.

What real Medicare contact looks like

Medicare reaches you through official channels. You may receive a letter in the mail about a change to your coverage, a bill, or a notice about your benefits. Your doctor's office or hospital may call to confirm an appointment or ask about your insurance. If Medicare needs to contact you about something urgent, they will send a letter first, not call without warning.

If you have questions about your Medicare account, you can call Medicare directly at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). This number is on your Medicare card and on official Medicare mail. When you call this number, you reach a real Medicare representative who can answer questions and help you with your account. You control the call — you decide when to make it and you know who you are calling.

How to respond if you get a scam call

Hang up when ready. Do not stay on the line, do not press buttons, do not give any information. Scammers may record your voice saying "yes" and use it later to authorize charges or open accounts in your name.

Do not call any number the caller gives you. If you want to check on your Medicare account, use the number on your Medicare card or call 1-800-MEDICARE. If the caller claimed there was a problem with your account, you can call Medicare yourself to ask whether there actually is one.

If you already gave information to a scammer, contact Medicare when ready at 1-800-MEDICARE and tell them what happened. They can help you monitor your account for fraud. You should also place a fraud alert with the three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) by calling 1-888-5-OPTOUT or visiting equifax.com, experian.com, or transunion.com.

How to report the call

Report scam calls to the Office of Inspector General, which investigates Medicare fraud. You can call 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477) or visit oig.hhs.gov and use their online form. Have the phone number that called you, the date and time of the call, and any details you remember about what the caller said.

You can also report the call to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov. The FTC tracks scam patterns and uses the reports to warn the public and pursue scammers. If the call came through your phone line, you can also report it to your phone company — many offer tools to block known scam numbers.

Protecting yourself from future calls

Do not give your Medicare number, Social Security number, or bank details to anyone who calls you, even if they sound official. If you are unsure, hang up and call the organization back using a number you know is real — the number on your card, on official mail, or in the phone book.

Be cautious of callers who create urgency or pressure. Real Medicare business can wait for you to call back. If someone says your coverage will be cancelled in the next hour unless you act, it is almost certainly a scam.

Consider using a call-blocking service. Many phone companies offer free or low-cost tools that filter out known scam numbers. You can also ask your phone company to block calls from numbers that are not in your contacts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Medicare call me about my doctor's appointment?

No. Your doctor's office or hospital may call about an appointment, but Medicare itself will not. If you are unsure whether a call about an appointment is real, hang up and call your doctor's office directly using the number on your insurance card or a previous appointment notice.

What if I am not sure whether a call is real?

Hang up and call Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE using the number on your Medicare card or official mail. Tell them about the call and ask whether Medicare tried to reach you. They can tell you whether the call was real and what it was about.

Is it safe to give my Medicare number to my doctor?

Yes. Your doctor's office needs your Medicare number to bill your insurance. You can give it to staff in person, over the phone when you call to make an appointment, or on forms at the office. The difference is that you are initiating the contact and you know who you are talking to.

What should I do if a scammer got my Medicare number?

Call Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE right away and tell them what happened. They can flag your account and watch for fraud. Also place a fraud alert with the credit bureaus by calling 1-888-5-OPTOUT. Monitor your Medicare statements and credit reports for unauthorized charges.

Can I block Medicare's phone number so they cannot call me?

You should not block Medicare's real number because you may need to call them or they may need to reach you in a genuine emergency. Instead, use call-blocking tools to filter out numbers that are not in your contacts. This stops most scam calls while letting real calls through.