Guard your card: How to protect your Medicare card

The most important thing you can do is guard your Medicare insurance card like it’s a credit card. Don’t give your Medicare card or Number to anyone except your doctor or the people you know who should have it.

You can also:

• Keep your Medicare insurance Number to yourself. If you get a call from people promising you things if you give them your Medicare Number — don’t do that. This is a common Medicare scam.
• Refuse any offer of money or gifts for free medical care. A common ploy of identity thieves is to say they can send you your free gift right away — they just need your Medicare insurance Number.
• Use a calendar to record all of your doctors’ appointments and any tests you get. When you check your Medicare insurance statements, look out for any items and insurance services listed and other details that don’t look correct. If you see a charge or service that you think is incorrect and you know the provider, call their office and ask about it.
• Learn how a Medicare plan works before you join.
• Stay alert for fraud during the coronavirus disease 2019 (or COVID-19) national emergency. Con artists like to take advantage of people when they’re distracted.