SCAM LIBRARY · IMPERSONATION

The Medicare / health-plan scam

Scammers pretend to be from Medicare or your health plan, call you out of the blue, and pressure you to give personal details or payment right away.

Documented by the FTC & FBI IC3 · reviewed 2026-07-06

How it works

You receive a call, text, or email that looks official, claiming there's a problem with your Medicare or health coverage that needs immediate attention. The caller or message creates urgency—saying your benefits will be stopped, or that you need to 'verify' your information or make a payment—and pressures you to act quickly without time to think or ask questions.

Red flags

• A caller claims your Medicare or insurance has a problem and demands action *right now*.
• You're asked to provide your Medicare number, Social Security number, or banking details over the phone or by email.
• The message comes unexpectedly and uses urgent language like 'suspended,' 'urgent,' or 'act today.'

What to do

• Hang up or don't reply. Legitimate Medicare and health plans don't ask for sensitive info by unsolicited calls or emails.
• If you're unsure, call your real health plan directly using the number on your insurance card—not any number the caller gave you.
• Report the contact to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov so others can be protected.