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Medicare phone scam: is that call real?

Editorially reviewed · Last updated September 8, 2026

Yes — this is a scam. Medicare doesn't call out of the blue to “verify” your number or threaten to cancel your coverage.

Exhibit · Phone call

Incoming call
(800) 555-0142
maybe: Medicare
Voicemail transcript

“This is an automated call from Medicare. Your Medicare benefits are about to be cancelled because we could not verify your account. To keep your coverage active and receive your new card, press 1 now to confirm your Medicare number.”

Illustrative phone call · not an original screenshot

Other versions you might get: “Press 1” robocalls about a free new plastic or chip Medicare card, refunds you're owed, or free braces and test kits — often a live person who then asks for your Medicare number to "ship" it.

What to do right now

  1. Hang up. Don't press 1, don't call back, and don't read out your Medicare number.
  2. Never confirm numbers. Your Medicare, Social Security, or bank details are not something to give a caller.
  3. Call back the real way. Reach Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE using the number on your card or medicare.gov.
  4. Report it. File at reportfraud.ftc.gov and report Medicare fraud at medicare.gov.
  5. If you shared your Medicare number, call 1-800-MEDICARE and review claims for services you did not receive. If your SSN or financial details were also exposed, follow IdentityTheft.gov guidance for that additional risk.

Reduce the risk of another scam

Hang up and verify the claim through a number you find independently. If you paid or shared account details, start with what to do after a scam. Blocking and reporting can reduce unwanted contact, but they cannot stop every attempt or tell you how the sender found you.

● Public service · free steps first

Reduce unwanted calls

Start with call blocking and your phone or carrier's filtering options. The Do Not Call Registry covers sales calls from companies that follow the rules; it does not block scammers.

Decide what protection you need

Start with the free controls above. Compare what a paid service would add only after deciding which problem remains.

Compare free and paid protection →

No purchase needed. How we use evidence.

Frequently asked

Does Medicare ever call you on the phone?
Medicare will not call to sell you something, but legitimate calls and requested callbacks can occur. Health and drug plans also have rules allowing some calls to members or people who gave permission. Do not give an unverified caller your Medicare number or payment details. Hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE or your plan through an independently verified number.
Are the Medicare calls about a new card or benefits a scam?
A caller demanding payment for a new Medicare card is a scam warning; your Medicare card is free. Do not assume every offer of covered equipment or a test is fraudulent, but verify it with Medicare, your plan, and your own clinician before sharing your Medicare number or accepting it.
How do I report a Medicare scam call?
Medicare gives you two direct routes: call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), or report it online to the HHS Office of Inspector General at oig.hhs.gov/fraud/report-fraud. If the call was about a Medicare Advantage plan or a Medicare drug plan, there's a dedicated line — the Investigations Medicare Drug Integrity Contractor (I-MEDIC) at 1-877-7SAFERX (1-877-772-3379). Report the call to the FTC too, at reportfraud.ftc.gov. You don't need proof of a crime to report — the number that called, the date, and what they asked for is enough.
I already gave out my Medicare number — what should I do?
Act, but don't panic — a Medicare number on its own isn't a drained bank account. Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) and tell them what happened. Then watch your claims: create an account at Medicare.gov to see your Original Medicare claims as they're processed, and compare the dates and services against your own calendar — billing for care you never got is how this scam pays out. Question anything you don't recognize with the provider's office, and report medical identity theft at identitytheft.gov. If you want a person to walk you through it, your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) gives free local counseling — find yours at shiphelp.org.

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Sources

  1. 01Medicare Impersonators— Federal Trade Commission
  2. 02Reporting Medicare fraud & abuse— Medicare.gov
  3. 03Report Medicare fraud online— HHS Office of Inspector General
  4. 04Find your local SHIP counselor— State Health Insurance Assistance Program
  5. 05Official security and fraud guidance— medicare.gov

Pass it on

Help protect someone else

If this could have fooled you, it can fool someone you know — a parent, a friend, the family group chat. It's safe to forward, and stands on its own as a record for a bank or the police.