Will I ever be asked for my Medicare or Social Security number?
You will only be asked for your Medicare or Social Security number if you initiate a call to Medicare or the Social Security Administration and ask the representative to access your account to assist you. If you have initiated the call, you can feel confident providing the information that they request.
Additionally, your medical providers (hospital, doctor’s office, medical equipment supplier, etc.) will need your Medicare number to process your claims, so it’s important to provide them with this information, as well as details about any supplemental coverage you have.
But Medicare and Social Security Administration representatives will never contact you to ask you for personal information, such as your Social Security number, bank account information, or your Medicare identification number. Scammers can use this information to bill Medicare for services you never received.
An offer of a plastic (instead of paper) Medicare ID card is a scam, as is any call, text, or email asking you to provide your Medicare number.
Here’s more from Medicare on avoiding scams and identity theft.
In a process that began in 2018 and was finished by 2019, Medicare mailed new ID cards to all beneficiaries. The cards have unique identification numbers that replaced the Social Security numbers on old Medicare cards. CMS and state insurance departments warned consumers to be on the lookout for scammers during this process.
Be suspicious of anyone who visits your home, calls, texts, or emails you asking for your information. Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to report suspicious phone calls. Additionally, Senior Medicare Patrols (SMPs) in each state are staffed by retired professionals and help Medicare beneficiaries prevent, detect, and report Medicare fraud.
