COVID-19, Frauds & Scams, General, Guest Bloggers, Medicare

Coronavirus-Related Medicare Scam Alert  

April 6, 2020 • By

Reading Time: 2 Minutes

Last Updated: February 21, 2023

Since older Americans are particularly vulnerable to coronavirus (COVID-19), I wanted to remind Medicare beneficiaries to be vigilant and take precautions to avoid falling victim to healthcare fraud during this pandemic.

We’re warning Medicare beneficiaries that scammers may try to use this pandemic to steal their Medicare number, banking information, or other personal data.

Unfortunately, scammers take advantage of the most vulnerable during times of uncertainty and change. You must protect yourself by making sure you only give your Medicare number to your doctor, pharmacist, hospital, health insurer, or other trusted healthcare provider.

If someone calls you on the phone, saying they’re from Medicare, and asks for your Medicare number or other personal information – just hang up.

Our representatives will never:

  • Call beneficiaries to ask for or to “verify” Medicare numbers.
  • Call to sell you anything.
  • Promise you things if you give them a Medicare number.
  • Visit you at your home.
  • Call you to enroll you in a Medicare program over the phone, unless you called us first.

We removed Social Security numbers from all Medicare cards last year to reduce fraud and protect our beneficiaries from identity theft. Even with this change, you should guard your Medicare card like you would a credit card. Be sure to check your Medicare claim summaries for errors and questionable bills.

If you suspect Medicare fraud, please report it by calling Medicare’s toll-free customer service center at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). You can also visit us online.

Please help spread the word by sharing this message with family and friends.  Your health and safety is important to us. So, please continue to follow President Trump’s public health guidelines by staying home. These simple actions could save more than 1 million American lives in the weeks and months to come.

For more information on Medicare and telehealth, check out Administrator Verma’s previous guest blog.

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About the Author

Seema Verma, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

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Comments

  1. Rebecca B.

    Thank you it is nice to know these things because it is so much going on right now . I a m 81 years old and I have had some of these calls . some saying my social security number had been compromised.
    Thank you
    Rebecca

  2. FRANK

    WHEN IS S.S. ANDD I.R..S. GONNA GET IT TOGETHER FOR OUR REBATE MONIES?
    ON THIN ICE WITH MY BILLS AS THE LOCAL GROCERY STPRES HAVE RAISED PRICES BY 6% TO 14%

    • tony

      Don’t go spending it all at once. We won’t be getting a COLA raise this year and maybe years to come. This is like 2008 all over again with the stimulus money and no COLA raises for years to come.

      • stephen b.

        The soc.sec. colas over the last ten years have not reflected the real rate of inflation! Our politicians have failed us as usual! The elderly poor are expendsble!

        • James

          Can we get a date when we getting our social security stimulus check

  3. Priya S.

    Hello, Thanks for sharing this information. Keep Sharing
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  4. joao j.

    minha conta e privado quando vc faz isso fica dificio deles rastrea sua conta ,

  5. Lucy A.

    Thank You!? for that information about scans especially with our social security information along with Medicare! Please continue keeping us update on what’s going on, all please take care yourself to with this “terrible virus” ?I’m appreciate the sun alot more than before!

  6. Robert W.

    I have gotten dozens of calls from pretenders claiming to be from Social Security and government student loan people. However when I ask for what area of the government their from they hang up. Note I graduated in 1969 and I’m now retired.

  7. Isaac

    Hi all, thanks all for the blog about this. When will this be able to happen when us supplement SSI members get this extra benefit?

  8. DAVID S.

    Thank you so much. This information is really helpful. I am new on Medicare so I am learning. Once again, thank you.

  9. israel T.

    is had to believe that this COVID-19 is a world crisis https://award9ja.com/5g-network-is-cause-of-coronavirus-did-you-agree/

  10. Donna K.

    Thank you for counting to advise Medicare patients to be careful. I try pass on this information to my friends.

    Stay safe

Comments are closed.