‘New’ Medicare Card Scam
According to FTC.gov, the number of older adults that have reported scammers to the Federal Trade Commission has increased four-fold since 2020. (See reference link below.) Once upon a time you could trust your neighbor, the mail, and dare I say, even some politicians! Unfortunately, that world has long passed and we must remain alert and aware of our surroundings and protective of our personal information. Sadly, when it comes to your health and wealth, I recommend proceeding with extreme caution and that you assume most callers are ‘out to get you’, not actually ‘looking out for you’.
One of the latest scams targeting Medicare beneficiaries is “new” plastic Medicare cards. These cards are arriving in your mailboxes with fake holograms and look to be official, even laminated and glossy and shiny like a credit card. However, these cards contain one instruction that will never come from the US government: you must activate the new card by calling a phone number and providing your Social Security number.
You should never provide your personal information such as SSN, Medicare ID number or bank/credit card information over the phone unless you absolutely know to whom you are speaking. If an unknown number ever contacts you and claims they are with a specific company, ask for their name and a reference number for the call. Then hang up immediately, call the company directly with a trusted phone number (not a phone number provided by the caller), and provide the reference number. Note: every legitimate call from a reputable company will be able to provide a reference number. This one extra step can mean the difference between losing your insurance coverage, your hard-earned savings, and even your identity.
Read more about this latest scam here: https://www.savingadvice.com/articles/2026/03/02/10723836_warning-if-you-get-a-new-plastic-medicare-card-in-the-mail-do-not-give-your-social-security-number.html
Other References: https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2025/08/ftc-data-show-more-four-fold-increase-reports-impersonation-scammers-stealing-tens-even-hundreds
How We Can Help
We want our clients to feel confident and protected when it comes to their healthcare coverage and personal information. If you ever receive a suspicious call, letter, or message about your Medicare coverage and aren’t sure whether it’s legitimate, our agents are here to help. We are happy to answer your questions and can provide guidance on what to look for so you can better identify potential scams before sharing any personal information.
We also encourage you to take a few proactive steps to reduce unwanted calls. Consider adding your phone number to the National Do Not Call Registry, which can help limit telemarketing calls. If you do receive a suspicious call, be sure to report it so authorities can track and stop scammers targeting others. When in doubt, pause and verify. A quick call to our office could help protect your identity, your finances, and your coverage.