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Medicare Open Enrollment runs from October 15 to December 7, and it's also peak season for scams. The Federal Trade Commission warns that health insurance scams pick up during Open Enrollment, and that some scammers pay to appear at the top of search results with ads made to look like Medicare.gov. Here's how to tell a real Medicare contact from a fake one, and what to do if you've already shared your information.
📋Quick Summary
- Medicare will never call you to sell you anything or visit you at home.
- Some scammers buy ads at the top of search results that imitate Medicare.gov. Look for "Ad" or "Sponsored" labels and a web address ending in .gov.
- To reach Medicare, type Medicare.gov yourself or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
- The $90 Medicare rebate is automatic. You don't need to call anyone or sign up to get it.
- Report suspected Medicare fraud to 1-800-MEDICARE or the HHS Office of Inspector General.
What Medicare Will and Won't Do
Medicare will never call you to sell you anything or visit you at your home. Medicare, or someone representing it, calls and asks for personal information only in limited situations, such as an agent or representative returning your call after you've joined a plan, reported fraud, or left a message for Medicare. Some scam calls now use AI-generated voices. Our guide explains how to tell if Medicare is really calling.
Don't join a plan over the phone unless you called and asked for help.
Keep your Medicare card and number private. Share them only with people who should have them, like your doctor, an insurer acting for you, or your State Health Insurance Assistance Program.
If someone calls saying they're from Medicare and asks for your Medicare Number or Social Security number, you can hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) yourself to check.
The New Trick: Fake Medicare Ads in Search Results
The FTC says scammers and dishonest businesses sometimes pay to appear at the top of search results, using lookalike web addresses and official-looking logos to imitate Medicare.gov or HealthCare.gov. Using a link or phone number from one of those ads could lead you to a plan that isn't real health insurance, or to medical identity theft.
Before you click:
- Look for a small "Ad" or "Sponsored" label. Those are paid results.
- Check the web address. A web address ending in .gov is from the U.S. government. One ending in .com or .org could be someone else.
- Scroll past the ads. Regular search results are ranked by relevance, not payment.
- Take your time. Open Enrollment runs until December 7, so there's no reason to rush a decision.
Related Medicare Updates
Other Scams to Watch for This Fall
The $90 payment. The Medicare Improvement Fund rebate is automatic for people who qualify. KFF's Juliette Cubanski said, in an Associated Press report carried by PBS NewsHour, that "people don't have to call or sign up". If someone asks you for money or personal information to send you the $90, that isn't how the payment works. Our $90 guide explains who qualifies.
"Your plan is ending" calls. Some people really are losing their Medicare Advantage plan for 2027, which gives scammers a convenient story. If a caller says your plan is ending, check the letters your plan mailed you or call the number on your member card, not a number the caller gives you. Our guide to cancelled plans explains your real options.
Billing for things you never got. Check your Medicare statements and claims regularly for services you didn't receive. Unexpected medical equipment at your door is a common version of this scam. See our guide to equipment you never ordered.
What to Do If You Think You've Been Scammed
- Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to report suspected Medicare fraud.
- Report it online to the HHS Office of Inspector General.
- If you're in a Medicare Advantage or drug plan, you can also contact the I-MEDIC at 1-877-772-3379.
- Report health insurance scams to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, as the FTC advises.
- Get help from your local Senior Medicare Patrol or your State Health Insurance Assistance Program.
- If your Medicare card was lost or damaged, Medicare.gov explains how to replace it.
For more on protecting yourself, see Is That 2026 Medicare Benefit Card Text Real? How to Tell.
✅What This Means For You
If you get a call from "Medicare": Don't share your Medicare number or bank details. Hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE yourself.
If you're comparing plans online: Type Medicare.gov into your browser instead of clicking a search ad, and use Plan Finder there. Our Open Enrollment guide walks through what to check.
If you're waiting on your $90: It's automatic. No one needs your information or a fee to send it.
If you help an older relative: Show them how to spot an "Ad" label and the .gov ending, and save 1-800-MEDICARE in their phone contacts.
Explore Further
Common questions about Medicare Open Enrollment scams
- Does Medicare call people during Open Enrollment?
- Medicare says it will never call you to sell you anything or visit you at home. It calls and asks for personal information only in limited situations, such as an agent or representative returning your call after you've joined a plan, reported fraud, or left a message for Medicare.
- How can I tell if a Medicare website is real?
- The official site is Medicare.gov, and a web address ending in .gov is from the U.S. government. Paid search results carry a small Ad or Sponsored label, and the FTC warns that some of those ads imitate Medicare.gov.
- Do I need to sign up to get the $90 Medicare payment?
- No. The payment is automatic for people who qualify, so you don't need to call anyone or sign up.
- Where do I report a Medicare scam?
- Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or report it online to the HHS Office of Inspector General. You can also report health insurance scams to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- What should I do if I gave my Medicare number to a scammer?
- Call 1-800-MEDICARE to report it, and check your Medicare statements and claims for services you didn't receive.
