Retirees Be Warned: Fake Medicare Calls Are Spiking Nationwide

Medicare undergoes changes and updates every year, which is why open enrollment gives you a chance to select a new plan that better fits your current needs. In the midst of these changes, it's essential for retirees to avoid making Medicare mistakes that could leave you with coverage gaps, higher out-of-pocket costs, and financial penalties.

Although you might be focused on decisions like which coverage is right for you or whether you should choose Medigap over Medicare Advantage, there's a whole other variety of problems you want to avoid. Retirees should be especially vigilant about scammers during the Medicare open enrollment period. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) recently updated its guidance for seniors, reporting that scammers are ramping up efforts to take advantage of the open enrollment period to try to trick seniors into giving out personal information.

Scams are a constant concern for all Americans, as Javelin Strategy & Research recently reported that Americans lost a terrifying amount of money to fraud in 2024, estimated at $47 billion. Seniors are frequent targets for fraudsters, as older people can be more trusting than others. When a scammer is calling with a promise to help with the confusing Medicare open enrollment process, the call may seem legitimate. Fraudsters know the widespread marketing associated with the open enrollment period gives them an opening to engage with seniors seeking help, so it's essential to learn about the current Medicare-related scams the BBB is reporting and how you can protect yourself.

The BBB uses its Scam Tracker webpage to give people an option for reporting suspected scams. It can then collect information reported to this webpage to determine which types of scams are occurring most frequently to help others avoid suffering from similar types of fraud.

The BBB reports that open enrollment fraudsters are using both voice calls and text messages. Some of the callers are claiming to be from Medicare, asking for personal information to issue a new Medicare card. Other callers claim that the seniors must renew their benefits right away to avoid losing them, requesting immediate payment or bank account verification to keep the Medicare benefits active. Another type of phone scam may come from callers who are pretending to be from an insurance provider for Medicare, offering free gifts or pressuring you with limited-time offers. Such scammers are looking for information they can use to send bills for fake services to Medicare, trying to collect fraudulent payments.

Text messages related to Medicare open enrollment scams often ask seniors to call an official phone number to renew their benefits. The number is fake and answered by fraudsters, who then request personal information, including bank account numbers. Seniors become exposed to identity theft by giving out this information.

One of the key signs that a scammer might be targeting a Medicare recipient is that the caller is pressing for immediate information. Fraudsters impersonating government agencies or other authorities often try to make the situation seem urgent, hoping that you give them personal information before you have a chance to think about it. The scammers are trying to affect your emotions, such as by making you worry that you might lose your Medicare benefits. Hang up on these callers and don't share personal information.

You should always assume a scam is occurring if the Medicare-related caller asks you for money. Medicare does allow free help from expert agents and brokers who can answer your questions about open enrollment. However, these people cannot charge any money for helping you. They will not call without a request from you, either, so if you receive a message out of nowhere from someone claiming to want to help you with Medicare, this is a fraudster and you should hang up.

If you're unsure whether a call is legitimate, tell the person you'll call back. However, do not dial any number that the unsolicited caller gives you. Don't rely on caller ID to find a number, either, as scammers can spoof phone numbers and fool caller ID software and services. Instead, search the insurance company's name on the web or contact Medicare directly. Alternatively, make an appointment to speak to someone in-person to get the assistance you need with enrolling.