Greg's Corner

Medicare Card Scam Targets Retirees

By Greg Collier

A growing number of Medicare enrollees across the country are being targeted by phone scammers posing as representatives from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. These imposters claim to be contacting beneficiaries about updates to their Medicare cards, but their real objective is to steal personal information such as Medicare identification numbers.

This scam is especially concerning for recent retirees who are still becoming familiar with how the Medicare system works. Criminals often rely on confusion or urgency to pressure individuals into handing over sensitive data. In many cases, they claim the changes are related to new policies involving Medicare or Social Security and that a new card must be issued. Some targets report being told that the card is changing to plastic, that it will contain a chip, or that it is being updated because of the new year. These claims are entirely false.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services does not call enrollees out of the blue or request personal information unless a person has initiated contact. No new Medicare cards are currently being issued, and there are no plans to switch to chip-enabled cards or any other new format.

The implications of giving away a Medicare number can be serious. Stolen Medicare credentials can be used by fraudsters to file false claims for medical equipment, medications, or procedures that never occurred. In extreme cases, criminals have enrolled unsuspecting beneficiaries into hospice care without their knowledge, fraudulently billing the federal government for end-of-life services while the individuals are still alive and healthy.

Medicare enrollees should treat their Medicare card with the same level of care as a credit or debit card. If there is any concern that a number has been compromised, it is critical to contact Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE to report the incident and, if necessary, request a new number.

Protecting your Medicare number is essential to ensuring your benefits are not misused. If you receive an unsolicited call asking for personal Medicare information, hang up and verify the request directly with Medicare before taking any further steps.