Medicare Open Enrollment Scams: 7 Red Flags to Watch For This Fall
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Medicare Open Enrollment runs from October 15 to December 7, 2026, and it is the busiest season of the year for Medicare scammers. Millions of people are expecting mail, calls, and ads about their coverage, which makes it easy for a fake one to blend in. The Federal Trade Commission issued a fresh warning on September 28 about scammers who build websites that look like Medicare.gov and HealthCare.gov and run ads to push them to the top of search results.
The goal is almost always the same: get your Medicare number, Social Security number, or bank details. With a Medicare number, a scammer can bill Medicare for services you never received, which can show up on your records and cause problems with your coverage later.
Key dates for 2027 coverage
- By September 30: Your current plan mails its Annual Notice of Change
- October 15 to December 7: Medicare Open Enrollment, when you can switch plans
- January 1, 2027: New plan choices take effect
If you are happy with your current plan and it is still offered next year, you usually do not need to do anything. Anyone telling you that you will lose coverage unless you act today is pressuring you.
What a Medicare Scam Looks Like
These are typical examples of the calls and messages people report during enrollment season.
The phone call
"Hi, I'm calling from Medicare. We're sending out new 2027 benefit cards and need to verify your Medicare number so yours isn't cancelled. Can you read me the number on your red, white, and blue card?"
The text message
"Medicare Alert: Your 2027 benefits are pending review. Confirm your eligibility within 24 hours to avoid a gap in coverage: medicare-benefits-review.com"
The lookalike website
You search for "Medicare plan finder" and click the first result. The page uses the Medicare logo and colors, but the address does not end in .gov. It asks for your Medicare number and date of birth to "show you plans." The FTC warns that these sites often appear as paid ads, so look for the small "Sponsored" or "Ad" label and scroll past it.
7 Red Flags of a Medicare Scam
1. Someone calls saying they are "from Medicare"
Medicare will not call you out of the blue to ask for your Medicare number or other personal information. If you did not request a call, hang up.
2. They ask for your Medicare number, Social Security number, or bank details
Treat your Medicare number like a credit card number. Only give it to your doctor, your pharmacy, your insurer, or someone you contacted yourself.
3. You are told you will lose coverage unless you act now
Open Enrollment lasts almost eight weeks, and doing nothing usually keeps your current coverage. Urgency is the scammer's main tool.
4. An "agent" cold-calls you
Medicare rules do not allow insurance agents to make unsolicited calls to sell you a plan. If an agent calls without your permission, that alone is a warning sign.
5. They offer something free in exchange for your number
"Free" back braces, genetic tests, or gift cards in exchange for your Medicare number are a common way to bill Medicare for things you never needed.
6. The website does not end in .gov
The official sites are Medicare.gov and HealthCare.gov. Type them into your browser yourself instead of clicking an ad or a link in a message.
7. You are asked to pay for a new Medicare card
Medicare cards are free, including replacements. Anyone charging a fee for a card is running a scam.
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How to Compare Plans Safely
- Use the Plan Finder at Medicare.gov, typed directly into your browser.
- Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) if you want help over the phone.
- Get free, unbiased counseling from your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) at shiphelp.org.
- If you work with an agent, look them up with your state insurance department before sharing anything.
- For Marketplace plans (under 65), use HealthCare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596.
If You Gave Out Your Medicare Number
- Call 1-800-MEDICARE and explain what happened.
- Check your Medicare Summary Notices and your account at Medicare.gov for services you did not receive.
- Contact your local Senior Medicare Patrol at smpresource.org for free help reviewing your records.
- If you gave a Social Security number or bank details, contact your bank and consider a credit freeze with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
- Report the scam at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
If You Help a Parent With Medicare
Enrollment season is a good time for a five-minute conversation. Agree on one simple rule: nobody reads their Medicare number to a caller, ever, and any message about coverage gets forwarded to you or checked before anyone acts on it. Scammers count on people deciding alone and under time pressure. A second opinion takes both of those away.
The safest approach this fall is simple: Medicare will not call you asking for your number, your coverage will not disappear overnight, and the only websites you need end in .gov. When in doubt, hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE yourself.
Sources: FTC consumer alert, "What to know ahead of Open Enrollment to avoid health insurance scams" (September 28, 2026); Medicare.gov.