Keep yourself safe - avoid and report Medicare scams

New Medicare cards will look like this

From the Office of the Insurance Commissioner

With Medicare Open Enrollment just around the corner -- October 15 – December 7-- and new Medicare cards in the mail, be on the lookout for scam artists trying to get your personal information.

If you’re a Medicare beneficiary, Medicare will never call you uninvited and ask for your personal information, or to get your new Medicare Number and card.

If a scammer contacts you and asks for information or money, or threatens to cancel your health benefits, do not share any information. Hang up and call the Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) program at 1-800-562-6900.

SHIBA is a project of the office of the state insurance commissioner. In addition to providing free, unbiased help with your Medicare options, SHIBA is Washington state’s Senior Medicare Patrol project. We help clients prevent, detect and report Medicare and Medicaid fraud and abuse.