Avoid Medicare scams

Someone you don’t know calls, emails, or texts you offering free medical equipment or services. What should you do? Hang up. Delete it. Only you and your doctor should decide what care and services are right for you.

Scammers want your Medicare information so they can bill Medicare for services you don’t need — like hospice (end-of-life care), home health care, or durable medical equipment (like a brace or cane).

Hospice scams are particularly harmful. If a scammer signs you up for hospice care without your knowledge, you could lose access to your regular Medicare benefits.

Crush Fraud

Remember: Never give out your Medicare Number and don‘t sign anything for free services — it‘s a scam. If you think you may have experienced fraud, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or report it online at Medicare.gov/fraud.

Sincerely,

The Medicare Team

NOTE: To root out fraud, Medicare has temporarily stopped allowing new home health and hospice agencies from opening. This doesn’t affect your care. If you and your doctor decide you need home health or hospice services, you can still get them from existing agencies in your area.