Medicare Open Enrollment Scams: Senior Defense Guide

Medicare Annual Open Enrollment runs October 15 through December 7. This eight-week window is when seniors can change Medicare Advantage and Part D plans for the following year. Scammers know this and use the window to push fake plans, switch you to plans that pay them commissions, harvest your Medicare number, or replace your card with a fake one. This guide explains the most common Medicare open-enrollment scams and how to refuse safely.

Key rule: Medicare will never call you to enroll you in a plan, send you a new card unless you requested one, or threaten to cancel your benefits if you don’t act now. Medicare contacts you by mail, never by surprise phone call.

The six Medicare open-enrollment scams most often seen

1. Door-to-door / cold-call “Medicare adviser.” A salesperson appears at your door or calls saying they can “upgrade” your Medicare to get “more benefits.” They are often unlicensed and earning commissions on plans that don’t fit your needs.

2. The fake “new Medicare card” scam. A caller says Medicare is issuing new plastic cards and needs your Medicare number to mail one. Medicare does not call to verify your number — they already have it.

3. The free medical-equipment kickback scam. An ad or call offers free knee braces, back braces, or genetic testing kits. They bill Medicare for thousands per item; you get a low-quality product and your Medicare number ends up in a fraud ring.

4. Plan-switching without consent. A scammer enrolls you in a different plan using your Medicare number. You discover it when prescriptions are denied or your doctor is no longer in network.

5. Phishing emails or texts about benefits. A message says your Medicare needs “verification” or you’ll lose benefits. The link harvests your Medicare number and login.

6. Fake “Medicare counselor” charging fees. Real Medicare counseling is free through your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). Anyone charging a fee for Medicare-plan advice during enrollment is a red flag.

How to protect yourself during open enrollment

  • Compare plans at medicare.gov/plan-compare — the official, free comparison tool.
  • Get free, unbiased help from SHIP — your state’s official Medicare counseling program. Find yours at shiphelp.org.
  • Treat your Medicare card like a credit card — give the number only to your doctor, pharmacist, and Medicare itself.
  • Verify any caller — Medicare’s official number is 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). Hang up and call back yourself.
  • Report fraud to the HHS OIG hotline at oig.hhs.gov/fraud or 1-800-HHS-TIPS.

If you’ve been switched to a plan you didn’t authorize

Call 1-800-MEDICARE immediately and request a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) based on “misrepresentation by an agent.” Medicare can reverse fraudulent plan changes within the same enrollment year. Document everything — keep names, dates, and any paperwork.