Common Medicare Scams in 2022

October 4, 2022 | Kathy Ingulsrud

Medicare scams have seen a staggering rise in the past few years. If you are on Medicare or are nearing your Medicare eligibility, you have likely received countless mailers, seen the too-good-to-be-true commercials, and answered some questionable phone calls. In today’s fast-paced, technology-laden environment, scammers have the upper hand. Keeping your personal information secure is more important than ever before.

At Twin City Underwriters, we often hear about fake Medicare inquiries and scams. We value hearing about these tactics and take responsibility for passing on alerts to our clients. We may ask clients bring their mail in to show us in person. We’re always glad to review pieces and pitches that appear in your mailbox, inbox, and phones. Please call us if you have questions or concerns.

If you or a loved one are targeted, please report the scam to the contacts at the bottom of this article. Here are several examples of scams we’ve seen Medicare beneficiaries deal with this year and suggested ways to frame a response. 

Common Medicare Scams in 2022

 1. A recent Twin City Underwriters seminar attendee reported that a friend had a “visit” from someone from Medicare at her house. Medicare officials do not make home visits, and it is illegal to represent Medicare or the federal government in this way. If someone comes to your home offering to sign you up, this is an illegal practice and should be reported.

2. Other clients reported that Medicare representatives had phoned them. Please be aware there are very limited circumstances where Medicare will call you directly. One example is if you have called 1-800-MEDICARE and requested a return call. Note that Medicare cards do not expire, so be careful of a pitch to “send you a new card”. Just hang up on fraudsters. If you have the patience to write down their calls to action and pitch, we would like to hear more, and so would Medicare. (See the phone # above).

3. One of our clients began talking about Medicare with a phone caller out of curiosity. Unfortunately, the conversation evolved into sharing their Medicare number. Within a few days, our client learned they were disenrolled from their current plan and enrolled in a different, unintended health plan. This resulted in many corrective conversations and several hours to remedy the issue. Know that attempts to verify your Medicare coverage are sketchy. You should only share private information with a trusted provider’s office, your Medicare carrier, or your agent here at Twin City Underwriters.

How to Avoid Medicare Fraud

Some key takeaways: 

• Medicare cards do not expire. Be wary of someone saying they need to send you a new one or wanting to verify your number. 
• It is illegal for someone to sell you Medicare policies over the phone unless you have called first and given permission for the conversation. Let them know that you are savvy about these rules and suspicious of Medicare scam calls.
• Medicare will never come to your home or call you uninvited, particularly to sell products or services.

There are other Medicare fraud schemes to be aware of. Reject offers of free equipment or services because “Medicare will cover it” or offers for non-medical transportation or housekeeping as Medicare-approved services. Even though it can be tempting to hear more, be suspicious of these claims involving Medicare fraud.

Be wary of attempts to “collect a payment” or “verify your identity” in which the caller pretends to be an employee of a government program or a healthcare provider. In the worst instance, they may threaten or demand immediate payment to avoid arrest or other legal action. They will ask you for private financial information to help you with the immediate payment. Do not give funds or personal information. In any of these situations, contact Medicare to report these criminal cases of fraud.

If your card is lost or destroyed, or if you think someone else is fraudulently using your Medicare card, then call Medicare directly. Stay alert to scams all year, but particularly during the Medicare Annual Election Period (AEP) between October 15th and December 7th. During these fall and winter months, there is a heightened interest in your healthcare; please keep your internal “fraud guard” at full strength. Let us know about your experiences as it allows us to help all our clients collectively.

Whether by clever mail “invitation” or a moment of distraction while on the phone with someone who seems informed and empathetic, falling into a scam net can happen quickly. Be cautious with marketing claims that deceivingly appear legitimate because they mimic logos, have an official look, or use a local phone number. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. We are happy to review written mail correspondence with you. Trust your senses and help protect your elder loved ones who may fall for these scams.

How to Report Medicare Scams

Here are numbers to access and call to report Medicare scams and fraud: 

• Medicare:  1-800-633-4227
• Federal Trade Commission:  1-877-382-4357
• Minnesota Sr. LinkAge Line:  1-800-333-2433

Choosing a Medicare plan can be difficult. Twin City Underwriters helps Medicare recipients in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and Florida find the Medicare plan that meets their unique needs. Schedule a one-on-one meeting with one of our Medicare insurance brokers to get your questions answered!