Medicare Scams You’re Most Likely to See – And How to Avoid Them

If you have Medicare, you’re a prime target for scammers. They know the rules are confusing, people are worried about coverage, and “free” health items sound tempting. Recognizing the most common scams is the fastest way to protect yourself and your benefits.

1. Fake Medicare Calls About New Cards or Benefits

One of the most frequent schemes starts with a phone call:

• Someone claims to be from Medicare or a “Medicare benefits center.”
• They say you need a new card, updated chip card, or to “re-activate” coverage.
• They ask for your Medicare number, Social Security number, or bank information.

Medicare does not call out of the blue to ask for personal or financial details. If you didn’t call them first, hang up. Look up the official number on your own if you want to double-check.

Red flag: Any caller who pressures you to “confirm your Medicare number right now or your coverage will be cancelled.”

2. “Free” Medical Equipment You Never Asked For

Scammers often push unnecessary durable medical equipment such as:

• Back, knee, or wrist braces
• Orthotic inserts
• Diabetic supplies

They may:

• Call saying your doctor “approved” the item.
• Claim it’s 100% covered and “you’ll never get a bill.”
• Ask for your Medicare number “just to verify.”

Legitimate suppliers don’t cold-call you or pressure you into items you didn’t request. If you receive braces or supplies you never ordered, that’s a sign someone may be billing Medicare in your name.

Protect yourself: Only give your Medicare number to your own doctors and pharmacies. If you’re unsure, contact your doctor’s office directly and ask if they ordered anything.

3. Genetic Testing and COVID-19 Testing Scams

Fraudsters have used health trends to bill Medicare for unneeded tests, especially:

• Genetic or DNA testing for cancer or heart disease risk
• COVID-19 tests at pop-up sites or events

The pitch usually sounds like:

• “We’re offering a free DNA test to see what medications work best for you.”
• “Medicare is covering this special COVID-19 panel today only.”

They’ll ask for your Medicare number and sometimes a cheek swab. Often, there’s no medical necessity and no real review by your doctor—just fraudulent billing.

Safe rule: Only get lab or genetic tests ordered by your personal doctor or a specialist you know, through a lab you recognize.

4. Health Plan and “Extra Benefits” Bait-and-Switch

Some scammers misrepresent Medicare Advantage or drug plans:

• They promise large cash back, rebates, or “all your groceries paid” with Medicare.
• They rush you to switch plans on the phone or at your door.
• They may enroll you in a different plan without clearly explaining that your doctors or medications might not be covered.

Real licensed agents must clearly describe what they’re selling and cannot mislead you about benefits. You never have to sign up for a plan on the spot.

Protect yourself: Ask for all details in writing, check your doctors and prescriptions against the plan’s network and formulary, and involve a trusted family member or counselor if you feel pressured.

5. Billing for Services You Never Received

Sometimes the scam doesn’t target you directly—it targets Medicare using your identity:

• Claims for office visits or home health services that never happened
• Duplicate claims for the same service
• Billing for a more expensive service than you received

The only way to catch this is to review your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) or plan Explanation of Benefits (EOB). Look for unfamiliar providers, services, or dates.

Action step: If something looks wrong, call the provider first to ask questions. If it still doesn’t make sense, report suspected fraud to Medicare or your plan.

Staying safe comes down to a few key rules: Medicare doesn’t call to ask for your number, anything labeled “free” but tied to your Medicare ID is suspicious, and your statements are often the first place fraud shows up. When in doubt, slow down, hang up, and contact Medicare or your doctor using a phone number you trust.