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How to stop Medicare calls – A No-Nonsense Guide

The majority of Medicare calls you receive will be scam calls. That’s because Medicare almost never contacts beneficiaries uninvited.

Scammers know this—and they’re getting bolder.

Complaints filed with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) about Medicare scam calls jumped 40% year over year, according to BBB data reported by the New York Times in December 2025.

In this guide, we’ll give you actionable steps to stop Medicare scam calls—and the information you need to spot them before they do any damage.

Dorota Martin

Updated on: 30 September, 2026

In short, to stop medicare calls:

Get on the National Do Not Call List (It Helps, But It’s Not Perfect)

The Do Not Call Registry is the first step. Register your number at donotcall.gov or call 1-888-382-1222.

Legitimate Medicare providers follow the law. Scammers don’t. That’s why it won’t be enough.

Don’t answer calls from Medicare

Medicare almost never calls. There are only two situations where a call might be legitimate:

You called Medicare first and asked for a callback.
You’re already a Medicare member and your plan’s agent is following up on an existing relationship.

If neither of those apply, let the call ring out. Answering—even to tell them to stop—signals to the scammer’s automated system that your line is active.

But—

Pressing the red button to decline is just as bad. That also signals an active number. Let it ring out instead.

What to do if you already answered

If you picked up a call from someone claiming to be Medicare:

Don’t provide any sensitive information—like your Medicare number, Social Security number, or bank account details.
Tell them directly: “put me on your do not call list.” If it’s a legitimate call, they’re legally required to comply.
Hang up and call Medicare directly at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to verify whether the call was legitimate.

The “Can you hear me?” trap

Watch out for callers who open with “Can you hear me?”

The FCC has warned that scammers may attempt to record your “yes” response and use it to authorize fraudulent charges later.

While no federal agency has documented confirmed victims of this specific mechanism, the precaution costs nothing.

If an unknown caller asks whether you can hear them, hang up.

Report the call as a scam or fraud

Medicare staff are well aware of the prevalence of scam calls that pretend to represent them. That’s why Medicare keeps a scam-prevention guide on its website explaining how to report fraud. Here’s where to send your report:

Medicare Fraud Hotline: Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) and report suspicious calls.
Office of Inspector General (OIG): File a complaint at oig.hhs.gov/fraud/report-fraud.
FCC Complaint Portal: If you’re getting robocalls, report them to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) at consumercomplaints.fcc.gov.
If you suspect the scammer has committed fraud using your Medicare number or other health-related information, you can file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. To do so, go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov and click “report now.”

Contact your local Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP)

Senior Medicare Patrols were created to help Medicare beneficiaries, families, and caregivers prevent, detect, and report healthcare fraud, errors, and abuse. It’s a volunteer-based project, grant-funded by the US Administration for Community Living. There is an active SMP in almost every state. To find or join your local one, visit smpresource.org.

If you think you’ve been scammed

Act quickly. Here’s the checklist:

Review your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) or Explanation of Benefits (EOB) for any unauthorized services or charges.

Call 1-800-MEDICARE immediately to report the fraud and flag your account.

Contact your local SMP at 1-877-808-2468.

Report identity theft at IdentityTheft.gov to get a personal recovery plan.

Block Medicare scam calls with the help of your phone service provider

Most major phone carriers offer free tools to help filter out spam calls:

T-Mobile Scam Shield
AT&T ActiveArmor
Verizon Call Filter

These services use AI to detect and block robocalls before they even reach you.

They won’t catch everything, though. For the numbers that get through, block them on the phone itself.

Block Medicare scam numbers directly on your phone

Once you’ve spotted a Medicare scam number, block it on your phone so it can’t reach you again. The steps differ a little between iPhone and Android, but either way it takes seconds.

On iPhone, follow our step-by-step iOS walkthrough. It also covers Screen Unknown Callers, the setting that silences or screens any number that isn’t already in your contacts.

On Android, our Android call-blocking guide covers the Google Phone app’s spam filter and the manual blocking steps.

And to block one specific number for good on either phone, see our guide to blocking an individual contact.

Remove your phone number from the internet

Before calling you, scammers have to get your number from somewhere.

Usually, they find it on social media profiles, people search sites, or private databases—where your number was sold alongside millions of others for a few dollars.

That’s why one of the most effective long-term steps is to remove your personal information from the internet.

Incogni automates this process—sending removal requests to hundreds of data brokers on your behalf so you don’t have to do it manually.

How to identify a Medicare scam call

An unexpected Medicare call is a red flag on its own.

But if you’re not sure, here’s the full checklist. If any of the following applies, hang up immediately:

They called you uninvited (you didn’t contact Medicare first).
They’re asking for your Medicare number, Social Security number, or bank account details.
They’re offering free supplies, equipment, or services.
They’re using urgency or fear—“limited time,” “your benefits will be canceled.”
The caller ID shows “Medicare” but you didn’t expect a call.

Caller ID is not always reliable
Scammers use spoofing technology to make calls appear to come from Medicare—even from official Medicare phone numbers. The FCC confirms this is a widespread tactic. A caller ID that says “Medicare” proves nothing. Trust the call only if you initiated the contact.

The four “never” rules

Here are some rules to bear in mind. Think of them next time you get a suspicious call from Medicare.

Medicare will never:

Call you uninvited to ask for personal information.
Visit your home uninvited.
Sell you anything over the phone.
Ask for your Medicare number, Social Security number, or financial details unless you called them first.

Spot the fake: paper vs plastic

Your official Medicare card is paper—red, white, and blue, with no chip and no expiration date.

CMS last updated the card format in 2018, replacing Social Security numbers with a unique Medicare Beneficiary Identifier.

Any caller claiming your card needs to be upgraded to plastic, metal, or a chip version is running a scam.

Some scammers have even started mailing fake plastic cards asking you to call a number to “activate” them. Don’t call. Discard the card and report it to 1-800-MEDICARE.

Common Medicare scams to look out for

Medicare scammers constantly refine their tactics. These are the most active scams in 2026.

Scam	What they say	What they want	What to do
Plastic/chip card	“Your Medicare card is being upgraded. We need to verify your number.”	Medicare #	Hang up. Your Medicare card is paper and free—it has never been plastic and has no chip. SMP Resource →
Free equipment	“You’re entitled to a free back brace covered by Medicare.”	Medicare #	Hang up. If you need equipment, your doctor prescribes it—no one calls offering it out of the blue. FTC alert →
Genetic testing	“We’re offering free cancer screenings / DNA kits in your area.”	Medicare #	Refuse. If Medicare denies the fraudulent bill, you could owe up to $10,000. Only your own doctor can order genetic testing. HHS OIG alert →
Refund scam	“You’re owed a Medicare refund due to a recent plan change.”	Bank + Medicare + SSN	Hang up. Legitimate refunds arrive by mail automatically—Medicare will never call to deliver one. Call 1-800-MEDICARE to verify.FTC →
Open enrollment pressure	“This offer expires today. Your coverage will be canceled if you don’t act now.”	Medicare #	Hang up. You have until December 7—no legitimate plan pressures you. Part D reps can only enroll you if you called them. FTC alert →
Prescription drugs	“We can offer you deeply discounted medications through your Medicare benefit.”	Payment + personal info	Hang up. Part D reps cannot cold-call or visit uninvited. Find coverage at medicare.gov →

FAQ

Does Medicare ever call you at home?

Almost never uninvited. Medicare only calls if you requested a callback, or if you’re already a member and your plan’s agent is following up on an existing relationship. Any other call claiming to be from Medicare is almost certainly a scam.

Does Social Security call about Medicare?

No. Social Security won’t call you uninvited about Medicare benefits. If someone claims to be calling from Social Security about your Medicare account, hang up and report it to Social Security at ssa.gov/fraud.

Why is a “Medicare agent” calling me?

These are typically third-party Medicare Advantage brokers. Under CMS rules, agents must obtain documented permission from you—called “Permission to Contact”—before they can call. If you didn’t provide that permission and a broker called anyway, report it to 1-800-MEDICARE or file a complaint with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

What should I do if I gave my Medicare number to a scammer?

Act immediately. Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to report the fraud and flag your account. Then visit IdentityTheft.gov to start a recovery plan. Review your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) for any unauthorized charges.

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