I gave a scammer my Medicare number. What now?

Why scammers want a Medicare number

A Medicare number is like an account number for your health coverage. With it, a dishonest company can bill Medicare for care, tests, or equipment you never received. The FTC has warned about schemes that billed Medicare for back braces people never asked for.

This kind of medical identity theft can also put wrong information in your health records, or make it look like you've used up a benefit. It's worth fixing, but it's very fixable.

Do this today

1. Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227)

   Tell them you gave your number to someone you now think was a scammer. Ask them to note your record.

2. Ask for a new Medicare number

   Medicare's rules say that if you suspect your number is compromised, you can request a new one. Medicare will mail a new card. Once it arrives, give the new number to your doctors, pharmacy, and any plan you have.

3. If you have a Medicare Advantage or drug plan, call the plan too

   Use the number on your plan card. Ask them to watch for claims you didn't get.

4. If you also gave your Social Security number or bank details

   Those need their own steps. See I gave a scammer my Social Security number and I gave a scammer my bank account information.

Free recovery checklist

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The printable C.A.L.M. checklist and who to call. No sales pitch. Or open the checklist now (PDF).

Check your claims for care you never got

This is how you catch misuse. With Original Medicare, you get a Medicare Summary Notice in the mail every six months if you had any services in that period. You can also sign up for electronic notices at medicare.gov/go-digital, or create a secure Medicare.gov account to see claims as soon as they're processed.

• Compare dates and services with your calendar and receipts.
• Look for doctors you've never seen, equipment you never got (braces, diabetic supplies, tests), and visits on days you were home.
• If you're in a Medicare Advantage or drug plan, read its Explanation of Benefits the same way.
• If something looks wrong, ask the provider or plan to explain. If it still looks wrong, report it.

Where to report

• Medicare fraud or billing for care you didn't get: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), or online through the HHS Office of Inspector General, linked from Medicare.gov.
• Help from a local volunteer: Your state's Senior Medicare Patrol. Find yours at smpresource.org. They help people spot and report Medicare errors and fraud.
• Medical identity theft: Tell your provider or plan, then report it at IdentityTheft.gov for a recovery plan.
• The scam call, text, or letter itself: ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

If wrong information got into your medical records

The FTC lays out these steps for medical identity theft:

1. Ask for copies of your records

   From each doctor, hospital, pharmacy, lab, and plan involved. There may be a form and a fee.

2. Mark the errors

   Visits, diagnoses, or prescriptions that aren't yours.

3. Write to the provider

   Send the incorrect record and an explanation by a tracked method like certified mail. The provider must respond within 30 days and tell other providers who have the same mistake.

4. Check your credit reports

   Medical debts you don't owe can show up there. Use AnnualCreditReport.com.

Helping a parent with this

Medicare scams are aimed squarely at older adults, so this is often a family job. Offer to make the 1-800-MEDICARE call together on speaker. Medicare will usually need your parent on the line to make changes. Then put a reminder on the calendar to read the next Medicare Summary Notice together.

Questions people ask