Before it happens.

Protect yourself — the habits that work

• Guard your Medicare number like a credit card. Your Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) is on your red, white, and blue card. Share it only with your doctor, pharmacist, or a trusted insurer — never over the phone with someone who called you.
• Hang up on unsolicited calls about Medicare. If someone calls you about Medicare and you didn't initiate contact, it's safe to hang up. Real Medicare business rarely starts with an outbound call to you.
• Don't accept "free" equipment or services from strangers. Scammers use free braces, glucose monitors, and other items as bait to get your number. If you didn't ask for it, be skeptical.
• Review your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) every quarter. It lists every service billed to Medicare on your behalf. Look for anything you didn't receive. Report errors to 1-800-MEDICARE.
• Be cautious at health fairs and community events. Scammers sometimes set up booths to collect Medicare numbers under the guise of "free screenings." You're not required to provide your number to attend.
• Ask for time to think before signing anything. Legitimate Medicare plans and agents will never pressure you to decide on the spot. If someone insists you must act now, that's a warning sign.
• Verify before you share — call the official number yourself. If you're unsure whether a call or offer is real, hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) using the number you look up yourself, not one they gave you.