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How to Spot a Medicare Scam

Scams targeting seniors are common—learn the warning signs to keep yourself safe.

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August 5, 2025

Unfortunately, scams targeting older adults are on the rise, and your Medicare benefits are often the target. These healthcare scams can be especially harmful—not only can you lose money, but scams can also affect your health and well-being.

Learning the warning signs can help you avoid fraud and keep your Medicare benefits safe and secure.

What to Look Out for

Here are some common Medicare frauds to look out for:
  • Genetic Testing: Be careful if someone promises a "free" genetic screening, cheek swab, or test kit. Though it may sound harmless, these tests can be used to learn your personal information and Medicare number, which can then be used to bill Medicare for services you don't need or services that don't even exist.
     
  • Braces and Orthotics: If someone promises a free brace covered by Medicare, be wary. These offers can lead to unauthorized charges on your Medicare account.
     
  • Urinary Catheter: If a person asks for your Medicare card number to bill Medicare for a “free” urinary catheter, it's likely a scam. Always verify with your healthcare provider before sharing your Medicare number.
     
  • Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM): Be cautious of people who reach out to you to monitor your medical devices, like glucose monitors or blood pressure cuffs. While they may claim it’s covered by Medicare, they could be trying to charge you for services you never received.

Scammers are creative, using all kinds of methods to target their victims, including email and phone scams, social media and online ads, radio or TV ads with a phone number to call for free items, and in-person approaches at public events, health fairs, and even door-to-door visits. In these healthcare scams, you might be offered free services, medical equipment, or gift cards, to get you to share your Medicare number or personal information. Once scammers have this information, they can charge Medicare for products that are not needed or do not exist, which could reduce your benefits and leave you with significant bills.

Keep Yourself Safe

To protect against fraud and scams, here are five tips to keep your Medicare benefits safe:
  1. Unsolicited Offers: If someone you don’t know calls or contacts you offering free items to be billed to Medicare, hang up immediately.
     
  2. Free Qualifications: If you are told you “qualify” for items “at no cost” or for “free,” take the time to research the offer and find out whether or not it is real.
     
  3. Medicare Number Requests: Your Medicare number and SCAN ID are yours alone. Keep them safe, just like you would with your Social Security number.
     
  4. Unordered Equipment: If someone sends you equipment you didn’t order, send it back right away. Make sure to keep a record of the sender’s name and the date you returned the item.
     
  5. Mysterious Charges: If you spot fees on your Monthly Summaries (Explanation of Benefits) that you do not recognize, give your doctor’s office or the SCAN Member Services office a call right away.

Who to Call

If you suspect something is a scam, report it as soon as possible. Here's who to call:

By staying informed and vigilant, you can protect yourself from becoming a victim of healthcare scams and ensure that your Medicare benefits are used for the services and care you truly need.

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