{"id":28411,"date":"2025-04-29T09:15:28","date_gmt":"2025-04-29T17:15:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.spokeo.com\/compass\/?p=28411"},"modified":"2025-04-29T09:15:33","modified_gmt":"2025-04-29T17:15:33","slug":"medicare-scams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spokeo.com\/compass\/medicare-scams\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Spot Medicare Scam Calls (and What to Teach Your Elderly Parents!)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

According to estimates from the National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association<\/a>, American taxpayers lose more than $100 billion to Medicare and Medicaid-based fraud every year \u2013 and that\u2019s considered a conservative figure, if you can believe it. Scams thrive (to put it lightly) in this sector for a cross-section of reasons. Not only is the inspector general\u2019s office tasked with fighting this sort of fraud woefully understaffed, with just around 450 agents to serve the entire U.S., but the grifts tend to target underserved or underprivileged groups like poor, black, and elderly Americans<\/a>\u2014 the latter of whom are Medicare\u2019s core beneficiaries.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Up to 22% of seniors who make less than $25,000 per year report receiving fraudulent Medicare calls, an experience that can make the already confusing web of navigating America\u2019s famously complicated healthcare systems downright nightmarish. Knowing what to look for and how to stay safe not only helps protect you, but sharing that kno<\/a>w<\/a>ledge with your elderly loved ones<\/a> could save them a ton of heartbreak, and a ton of money, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Medicare Scam Calls<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When the topic of Medicare scams pops up, most people start with one reasonable question: Does Medicare call you at home? Straight from the horse\u2019s mouth at Medicare.gov<\/a>, \u201cMedicare will never call you to sell you anything.\u201d In fact, \u201cMedicare will only call and ask for personal information in limited situations,\u201d such as when you\u2019re already a member of a health or drug plan and more info is needed, if you\u2019ve called Medicare and asked for a callback, or if you\u2019ve filed a fraud report.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where things get sticky \u2013 and scammy \u2013 for seniors<\/a>, though, is on the Medicare marketing end. Most Medicare scams occur when choosing a health care plan. While Medicare marketing isn\u2019t illegal in America, the type <\/em>of marketing is regulated (more on that later). However, because of the inherent confusion that comes with choosing Medicare plans, the majority of Medicare scam calls are marketing-related.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"health<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Types of Medicare Scam Calls<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The unfortunate reality is that the various types of Medicare scam calls cooked up by con artists are just about as numerous as the types of plans themselves. Navigating healthcare is confusing enough on its own, so keep your elderly loved ones stress-free by identifying some of the most common types of Medicare scam calls:<\/p>\n\n\n\n