Scam guides › Medicare card or benefits scam
Medicare card scam calls and texts: "Your new Medicare card"
Updated . By the AskBeforeYouSend editorial team (how we fact-check). Fact-checked against the official sources listed at the bottom.
Short answer: If someone contacts you out of the blue asking for your Medicare number, bank details or payment for a "new card", it's a scam. Medicare cards are free, and you can call Medicare yourself at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to check.
What it looks like
Medicare: Your card is expiring. To receive your new plastic chip card, verify your Medicare number and date of birth. Call 1-855-555-0142 now.
A made-up example. There is no "plastic chip card" you need to buy or verify by phone.
How the scam works
- A caller or text says your card is expiring, your benefits will stop, or you qualify for free equipment or a genetic test.
- They ask you to "verify" your Medicare number, Social Security number or bank account.
- They use it to bill Medicare in your name or to steal from you.
Red flags
- Anyone asking for your Medicare number on a call you didn't make
- A "new" or "plastic" card that costs money
- Free braces, test kits, or DNA tests offered by phone
- Threats that your coverage will be cancelled
What to do now
- Hang up. Don't confirm any numbers.
- Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) yourself if you're unsure.
- Check your Medicare Summary Notice for services you never got.
- Report it to the FTC.
Never send money, gift cards, crypto or verification codes because of a call, text or message. Hang up and call the real number.
Report it
Questions
Do I have to pay for a new Medicare card?
No. Medicare cards are free. Anyone charging for one is a scammer.
Sources
- FTC: Medicare impersonators
- FTC consumer alert: Your Medicare number is valuable. Protect it (Jun 2024)
- Medicare.gov: Your Medicare card
- Medicare.gov: Reporting Medicare fraud and abuse
Example messages are made up to show the pattern unless we say otherwise. Phone numbers in examples use the fictional 555 range.
Get next week's scam before it reaches you
One short email a week: the newest scam going around, a real example, the warning signs, and exactly what to do. Free, always. Plus a free printable Scam-Proof Fridge Sheet and Family Safety Checklist.