How the scam works
DES MOINES, IA — Iowa officials are warning Medicare beneficiaries that criminals are using open enrollment season to push fake insurance offers, phishing texts and calls that pretend to come from Medicare. The timing matters: many people are already sorting through notices about plan changes, so a convincing call or message can feel urgent and real.
Scammers often try to get a Medicare number, other personal details or payment information by claiming a plan has been canceled, benefits are in danger, or a new card is needed right away. State officials say Medicare does not initiate direct calls to people in this way, which makes any unexpected outreach a major red flag.
The Iowa Insurance Division says the problem is harder to spot because criminals now use spoofed phone numbers and artificial intelligence tools to sound more legitimate. That can make a fake caller seem familiar, professional or local, even when the contact is a trap.
The warning signs
- Someone calls, texts or emails out of the blue and claims to be from Medicare.
- The caller says you must get a new plastic or chip-enabled Medicare card.
- You are told your coverage will be canceled unless you verify your Medicare number.
- An offer promises cash cards, free medical equipment or better benefits in exchange for your information.
- The message pushes you to click a link or share details quickly without time to check.
- The phone number or voice sounds official, but the contact feels urgent, pushy or unusually secretive.
If you've already paid or shared information
- Contact your bank, credit card company or other financial institution right away if you sent money or payment details.
- Change passwords for any online accounts that may have been exposed.
- Watch Medicare Summary Notices and Explanation of Benefits closely for charges you do not recognize.
- Report suspicious activity to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- Contact Medicare through Medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to verify what happened.
- If your Medicare number may have been stolen, ask about next steps and keep records of every call, text or email connected to the scam.
How to protect yourself
- Treat your Medicare number like a credit card number and never give it to someone who contacts you first.
- Do not click on suspicious links in emails or text messages, even if the message looks official.
- Use only trusted contact methods, such as Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE, when you want to check a claim or benefit.
- Read every notice from your current insurer carefully, especially if your plan is changing or being discontinued.
- Compare your coverage options before open enrollment deadlines so you are less likely to rush into a bad decision.
- If a caller pressures you to act immediately, hang up and verify the information on your own.
The bottom line
Officials say this wave of scams is landing at a risky moment for thousands of Iowa Medicare beneficiaries whose plans are changing or ending. That confusion gives criminals a chance to sound helpful while trying to steal personal information.
The safest approach is simple: slow down, verify every contact through an official channel and never share Medicare details with someone who reached out unexpectedly. If something feels off, it probably is.
