If your phone has been ringing with “Medicare” on the caller ID lately, you’re not imagining it. Open enrollment runs from October 15 to December 7, and that is exactly when scammers work hardest. Here is how to tell a real contact from a fake one, and what to do if you slipped.

Why scams spike while open enrollment is open

Millions of people are comparing plans at the same time, so a call about “your Medicare coverage” sounds believable. Scammers use that timing to ask for your Medicare number, Social Security number, or bank details. Some even pay for search ads and build websites that look like government pages, so a top search result is not proof that a site is official.

What Medicare says it will never do

• Medicare will never call you to sell you anything or visit your home.
• Medicare, or someone working for it, will only call and ask for personal information in limited cases, such as returning a call you made or after you’ve joined a plan.
• You should not join a Medicare health or drug plan over the phone unless you were the one who called and asked for help.
• Offers of money or gifts in exchange for “free” medical care are a warning sign, not a perk.

Real contact vs. scam contact

Situation	Likely real	Likely a scam
Who started the call	You called 1-800-MEDICARE or your plan	An unsolicited call or text out of the blue
What they ask for	Nothing, or details you already gave when you called	Your Medicare number, SSN, or bank info “to update your card”
Pressure	You can think it over and call back	“Enroll today or lose coverage”
Incentives	None	Gift cards, cash, or “free” equipment
Website	Medicare.gov	A look-alike address you reached from an ad

5 red flags to check before you answer

1. The caller says they are from Medicare and wants to sell you a plan.
2. They ask you to confirm your Medicare number or Social Security number.
3. They say your card is expiring or must be replaced for a fee.
4. They push you to enroll right now.
5. They offer a gift or cash for signing up.

Here is a quick example. If a caller says you’ll lose coverage on December 7 unless you read out your Medicare number, hang up. Then call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) yourself and ask whether anything on your account needs attention. A real deadline will still be there after you hang up.

If you already shared your number

1. Call 1-800-MEDICARE and report it. You can also report fraud at oig.hhs.gov.
2. If you have a Medicare Advantage or drug plan, you can also call the I-MEDIC at 1-877-772-3379.
3. Compare your appointment calendar with your Medicare statements. Every listed service should match something that actually happened.
4. Create or check your Medicare.gov account so you can see claims as they are processed.
5. If your identity may be stolen, report it at identitytheft.gov.

Where to get real help for free

Your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) offers free, unbiased counseling and has no plan to sell you. You can find your local office at shiphelp.org. Bring your current plan’s Annual Notice of Change if you have it. Give your Medicare card or number only to your doctor and to people who should have it, such as an insurer acting for you.

Common scam scripts and what to do with each

Scammers rarely say “I’m selling you a plan.” They wrap the request in something that sounds routine. These are the scripts that come up most often, and the safe response to each.

What the caller says	What is really going on	What to do
“We need to send you a new Medicare card, and there is a small fee.”	A fee scam. Medicare cards are not sold or activated for a fee.	Hang up. If you truly need a replacement, request one through your own Medicare.gov account or 1-800-MEDICARE.
“You are due a refund, please confirm your bank account.”	A request for bank details under the cover of money owed to you.	Never give bank details to an incoming caller. Ask 1-800-MEDICARE whether any refund exists.
“You qualify for a free back brace or genetic test.”	Used to collect your Medicare number and bill for items you never needed.	Only accept equipment or tests ordered by your own doctor.
“Press 1 to speak to a Medicare agent about your new benefits.”	A robocall lead-in to a high-pressure sales pitch.	Do not press anything. Hang up and let it go.

Which situation are you in?

• You did not answer, or hung up right away: nothing to do. Write down the number if you like, and keep going.
• You talked but gave no numbers: you are very likely fine. Expect more calls, since your number may now be flagged as live.
• You gave your Medicare number: call 1-800-MEDICARE the same day, watch your Medicare statements for the next few months, and ask whether a new number is warranted.
• You gave your Social Security number or bank details: contact your bank right away, then report it at identitytheft.gov and consider a credit freeze.
• You paid by gift card, wire, or cash app: tell the payment company immediately and report it to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Recovery is not guaranteed, so speed matters.

A simple 3-step habit for the next seven weeks

1. Let unknown numbers go to voicemail. A real plan or doctor’s office will leave a message with a callback number you can verify.
2. Do your own research first. Use the Plan Finder at Medicare.gov or a free SHIP counselor to make a shortlist before anyone has a chance to pitch you.
3. Call back only on numbers you looked up yourself, from the back of your card, your plan’s mailed materials, or Medicare.gov.

Quick FAQ

Does signing up for the Do Not Call registry stop these calls?

It helps with legitimate telemarketers, but criminals ignore it. Treat a call that breaks the rules as a bigger red flag, not a reason to trust it.

Can I still pick a plan after December 7?

Most people who miss the window have to wait for the next one, unless they qualify for a special enrollment period. A caller who tells you that you “must decide today” is using the deadline to rush you, not to inform you.

Where else can I report a suspicious Medicare call?

Besides 1-800-MEDICARE and oig.hhs.gov, your state’s Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) takes reports. The national line is 1-877-808-2468, and you can find your state program at smpresource.org.

The bottom line

Medicare will not cold-call you to sell a plan. If the contact came to you, treat it as suspect, hang up, and call the official number yourself. You have until December 7 to pick a plan, which is plenty of time to do it safely.