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. JOSEPH P.

    I heard that with Medicare disability income that I can apply for Medicaid to get extra help from the benefits of Medicaid like doctors that cover Eye Care in dentist and a bunch of other benefits I can’t seem to find the form to fill out to see if I’m eligible to combine the Medicare with the Medicaid how do I go about doing that the phones are impossible last time I was on the waiting time for 2 hours I didn’t take that option another option I was on a call back option and I waited an hour and never got a call where do you think I should do to get the Medicaid benefits with my already Medicare benefits or is that just a rumor my friend told me in New York he’s on Medicare and he was told that Medicaid is allowing Medicare people to sign up for Medicaid it will be a combined health Plan how do I get information about this

    • V.V.

      Hi Joseph. You may want to apply for Extra Help with Medicare prescription drug plan costs. The Extra Help is estimated to be worth about $5,000 per year. To qualify for the Extra Help, a person must be receiving Medicare, have limited resources and income, and reside in one of the 50 States or the District of Columbia. In addition to the Extra Help, you may be able to get help from your State with other Medicare costs under the Medicare Savings Programs. By completing the Extra Help application, you will start your application process for a Medicare Savings Program. We will send information to your State who will contact you to help you apply for a Medicare Savings Program unless you tell us not to when you complete the application.

      If you need information about Medicare Savings Programs, Medicare Prescription Drug plans or how to enroll in a plan, call 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048) or visit http://www.medicare.gov. You also can request information about how to contact your State Health Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program (SHIP). The SHIP offers help with your Medicare questions. We hope this helps.

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    thanks
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  3. Health g.

    Herbal remedies are the cure. God did not create anything in Vain. https://flyersclub.international/doomsday-survival-how-keep-family-alive/
    Infectious disease will not kill us if we are strong on the inside.

  4. Ani M.

    My name is Ani Minassian my SSDI and disability is being collected by an imposter in State of NJ please call me my tel#2019486111 my email animihranian@aol.com NJ SSA Employees know this and threaten me by saying it is Allowed to do this the last 4 digit of my SS# 0382 Since 1982 imposter is collecting my 8 broken bones disability I am the real injured I am threatened by SSA employees of NJ that I can not change this fraud.

  5. Ani M.

    Why is it allowed imposters to collect disabled SSDI in State of NY and State of NJ. My SSDI IS GIVEN TO AN IMPOSTER IN STATE OF NJ AND SSA EMPLOYEES AND SUPERVISORS KNOW AND ALLOW IT. PLEASE CALL ME MY NAME IS ANI MINASSIAN MIHRANIAN AND MY SSDI AND DISABILITY IS BEING COLLECTED BY AN IMPOSTER IN STATE OF NJ AND SSA EMPLOYEES ALLOW IT

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  7. Martin

    Yes Very true. It is happening all around the world. People are not thinking to help mankind but to make profit from this pandemic. Very bad.

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  8. Hugh

    No one, and I mean no one, IRS, SSA, Treasury, AARP, has put out a worthwhile update since May6th. They keep using the word update but just republishing the same thing over and over. IRS still does not provide a tool for SSA nonfilers to track their payment. I am referring to SSA beneficiares (not SSI, SSDI) who normally receive their benefit by direct deposit. Thousands have still not received a payment. This seems to mostly involve Comerica Bank and Direct Express (a system that needs investigation anyway). No amount of individual complaint is going to make anything happen unless some of the above organizations apply some pressure Is Comerica Bank holding up these payments until the persons regular deposit date? They should not, but if they are they need to make that clear.

    • Ani M.

      Why are you upset my SSDI has been given to an imposter and an imposter collects my 8 broken bones injury and Hackensack NJ SSA and all other SSA employees and supervisors know this they refuse to document I am the real Ani Minassian and when I complained to NJ police they did not give me a report about this. This is a true story. with my experience NJ SSA employees are like the mobs with my experience. They are KNOWINGLY giving disability to an imposter under my medical records of 8 broken bones and two right ankle operation and refuse to document the truth. my tel# is 201-948-6111 my email animihranian@aol.com

  9. Gregory S.

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  10. Sandy K.

    Thank you. I receive phone callas for braces and services a lot

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