Healthcare scams to avoid and how an advocate protects you

Why this matters

Scammers target people every day by phone, text, email, and mail. Many pretend to be Medicare, a clinic, a charity, or a trusted company. Others try to sell false coverage, bill for services you never received, or push free tests that your doctor did not order. Knowing the signs helps you act early, protect your information, and stop losses before they start. The Federal Trade Commission, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and the Office of Inspector General share clear warning signs and reporting steps.

Common healthcare scams to watch for

Government and business impersonation

You get a call, text, or email that looks like it is from Medicare, Social Security, the FTC, a hospital, a pharmacy, or a known company. The message claims an urgent problem or prize and pressures you to act fast. It demands payment by gift card, cryptocurrency, wire, or a payment app. Real government agencies and reputable companies do not ask for payment that way. Hang up. Do not click links. Go directly to the official site or the phone number on your card to verify. Report what happened to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Grandkid and family emergency stories

A caller pretends to be a grandchild or relative in trouble and begs for secrecy and fast payment. Stop and verify with another family member or by calling the person back using a number you already have.  

Health insurance and Marketplace scams

Ads and callers may offer cheap plans, free gift cards, or say they are from HealthCare.gov. Some enroll people in plans without permission or switch plans behind their back. Get coverage information only from HealthCare.gov or the Marketplace Call Center. Never share personal data with unsolicited sellers. If you have Medicare, it is against the law for anyone to sell you a Marketplace plan.

Medicare genetic testing and free equipment scams

Fraudsters offer free genetic tests, cancer screens, or durable medical equipment at health fairs, by phone, or door to door, then bill Medicare when no doctor ordered the item. Do not share your Medicare number. Only your own clinician should order tests or equipment for you. Report suspected fraud to the OIG Hotline or Medicare.

Unwanted calls and texts

Scammers ignore the National Do Not Call Registry and use spoofing to fake caller ID. Your best defense is call blocking, call labeling, and refusing to answer unknown numbers. Register your number and report unwanted calls.

Medical billing and collection scams

Some bad actors send fake bills, pressure you to pay by unusual methods, or misstate what insurance allowed. Always compare every bill to your Explanation of Benefits or your Medicare Summary Notice. If you see services you did not receive, call the provider and your plan, then report suspected fraud.

Fast safety checks before you respond

• Pause and talk to someone you trust or your advocate. Scammers rely on secrecy and urgency
• Never pay with gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire for any bill or plan
• Do not click links or open attachments from unknown senders
• Verify directly with your clinic, pharmacy, plan, or government site using a phone number you already have
• Review your Medicare Summary Notices and plan statements and keep a simple care calendar to match dates and services
• Register your number with the National Do Not Call Registry and turn on call blocking on your phone Consumer Advice Medicare Do Not Call Registry

How an advocate helps you avoid scams

• Screen suspicious messages with you
  Send questionable emails, texts, letters, and voicemails to your advocate. We help check sender details, look up official contacts, and decide next steps so you do not respond to a fake request
• Verify benefits and bills
  We compare your bills and statements with your visit notes and your Medicare Summary Notices, then call the provider or plan with you to correct mistakes or challenge improper charges
• Coordinate with your care team
  We contact your doctor or pharmacy directly to confirm whether a test, device, or refill is real and necessary
• Report and document
  We walk you through reporting to ReportFraud.ftc.gov, the HHS OIG Hotline, Medicare, the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, and your state if needed. We help keep copies, dates, and case numbers for your records
• Set up practical protections
  We help you register for the National Do Not Call Registry, adjust phone settings, and use call blocking. We can also help you place alerts or freezes with credit bureaus if identity theft is suspected

Explore related Understood Care support
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Financial help understoodcare.com/articles/financial-help-for-your-healthcare-needs
Why advocates matter understoodcare.com/articles/why-advocates-matter-for-your-care‍

What to do right now if something seems off

1. Stop contact with the caller, texter, or email sender
2. Save evidence screenshots, emails, phone numbers, and dates
3. Call your plan or Medicare using the number on your card and ask for a benefits check
4. Report
   ReportFraud.ftc.gov for any consumer scam
   HHS OIG Hotline for Medicare related fraud
   1 800 MEDICARE for billing issues or suspected abuse
   IC3.gov for internet enabled fraud and elder fraud concerns ReportFraud.ftc.govOffice of Inspector GeneralMedicareInternet Crime Complaint Center
5. Tell someone you trust and consider asking an advocate to help you follow through on every step

How Understood Care works with you

You are not alone. An advocate can join calls, help file reports, and keep follow up tasks organized so you feel supported and protected. We can also help you learn simple habits that reduce risk, like confirming requests through official phone numbers, keeping a care calendar, and reviewing your Medicare Summary Notices every month. Start a conversation with an advocate today at https://understoodcare.com or call (646) 904-4027‍

Protecting Yourself from Healthcare Scams: Frequently Asked Questions

• Why do I need to worry about healthcare scams at all?
  Scammers target people every day by phone, text, email, and mail. They often pretend to be Medicare, Social Security, a clinic, an insurance plan, a charity, or a trusted company. Others try to sell fake coverage, bill for services you never received, or push “free” testing that your doctor did not order. These schemes can steal money, misuse your Medicare or insurance information, and even put your health at risk. Knowing the warning signs and acting early helps you protect both your wallet and your medical identity.
• What are government or business impersonation scams and how can I spot them?
  In these scams, someone reaches out and claims to be from Medicare, Social Security, the Federal Trade Commission, a hospital, a pharmacy, or a well known company. The message usually creates a sense of urgency, such as saying your benefits will stop, your account is under review, or you have won a prize that expires soon. They pressure you to act quickly and often demand payment by gift card, wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or a payment app. Real government agencies and reputable companies do not demand payment this way. If you get this kind of contact, hang up, delete the text or email, and reach out directly using the phone number on your card or the official website.
• What is the “grandkid” or family emergency scam?
  In a grandparent or family emergency scam, a caller pretends to be a grandchild, relative, or friend in trouble. They claim to be in jail, in an accident, stuck overseas, or in some other crisis and beg you not to tell anyone else. They push for fast payment, often through unusual methods. The safest response is to pause and verify. Call another family member, contact the person using a number you already have, or check through someone you trust before sending money or sharing information.
• How do health insurance and Marketplace scams work?
  Some scammers pretend to be from HealthCare.gov, a Marketplace, or a “benefits center.” They might offer cheap plans, gift cards, or say you must give information right away to keep coverage. Others enroll people in plans without permission or switch their plan behind their back. To stay safe, get coverage information only from HealthCare.gov, your state Marketplace, or the official call center. If you have Medicare, no one is allowed to sell you a Marketplace plan. Never share personal data or payment information with someone who contacts you out of the blue.
• What are Medicare genetic testing or “free equipment” scams?
  These scams often show up as offers for free genetic tests, cancer screening, braces, back supports, or other durable medical equipment. You might see them at health fairs, receive calls at home, or even get door to door visits. The scammer offers free items if you just provide your Medicare number, then bills Medicare for tests or equipment that were never ordered by your doctor or were not medically needed. To protect yourself, never share your Medicare number with anyone who is not part of your regular care team. Only your own clinician should order tests or medical equipment for you.
• How can I protect myself from robocalls and unwanted texts?
  Scammers often ignore the National Do Not Call Registry and use technology to fake caller ID so it looks like a local or familiar number. The safest habit is to let unknown calls go to voicemail, use call blocking or call labeling features on your phone, and avoid returning suspicious numbers. You can register your number at the official Do Not Call Registry and report unwanted calls and texts to help regulators track scam patterns.
• How do medical billing and collection scams show up?
  Some scams arrive as fake medical bills or collection notices that pressure you to pay quickly, often using unusual payment methods. In other cases, a real bill includes charges for services you did not receive, the wrong dates, or amounts that do not match your insurance statement. Always compare bills to your Explanation of Benefits from your health plan or your Medicare Summary Notice if you have Original Medicare. If something does not match or you see services you never had, call the provider billing office and your plan using trusted phone numbers. If you suspect fraud, report it.
• What quick safety checks should I use before responding to any message or bill?
  It helps to slow down and do a short safety check. Talk with someone you trust or with your advocate before acting on any unexpected request. Never pay any medical or insurance bill with gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers. Avoid clicking links or opening attachments from unknown senders. Instead, sign in to your patient portal or your plan website directly, or call the number on your insurance card. Review your Medicare Summary Notices or plan statements and keep a simple calendar of your visits so you can match dates and services to what you are billed for.
• How can an Understood Care advocate help me avoid and handle scams?
  An advocate can review suspicious calls, texts, emails, letters, and voicemails with you so you do not have to guess alone. Together you can check sender details, look up official phone numbers, and decide whether to ignore, verify, or report the contact. Advocates can compare your bills and insurance statements to your visit history and your Medicare Summary Notices, then call the provider or plan with you to correct errors. They can confirm whether a test, device, or refill is legitimate by speaking directly with your doctor or pharmacy. If reporting is needed, an advocate can walk you through filing reports with the Federal Trade Commission, the HHS Office of Inspector General, Medicare, the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, and your state agencies, and help you keep copies of case numbers and letters. They can also help you register for the National Do Not Call Registry, adjust phone settings, set up call blocking, and place credit alerts or freezes if identity theft is suspected.
• What should I do right now if I suspect a scam or something feels off?
  If something feels wrong, stop contact immediately. Do not answer further calls, texts, or emails from the sender. Save evidence such as screenshots, emails, phone numbers, and dates. Call your health plan or Medicare using the number on your card and ask for a benefits and claims check. You can report consumer scams to ReportFraud.ftc.gov. For Medicare related fraud, you can contact the HHS OIG Hotline or call 1 800 MEDICARE. For internet based fraud or elder fraud concerns, you can report at IC3.gov. Tell a trusted family member, friend, or advocate what happened so you have support, and consider asking an advocate to help you follow through on every step.
• When should I involve an advocate instead of handling this alone?
  It is a good idea to involve an advocate any time you feel overwhelmed, pressured, or unsure about a bill, a call, or a message. Advocates can join calls, help you understand what insurers or billing staff are saying, and keep follow up tasks organized. If you have already shared information with a suspected scammer, an advocate can help you notify Medicare or your plan, monitor for suspicious claims, and report potential identity theft. Reaching out early can limit damage and give you a clear plan to move forward.
• How do I get started with Understood Care if I want this kind of help?
  You can contact Understood Care by phone or through the website to meet with an advocate. Together, you will review any suspicious contacts, go through your recent bills and insurance statements, and create simple habits that lower your risk going forward. These may include confirming any request through official numbers, keeping a visit calendar, and reviewing your Medicare Summary Notices regularly. If you would like support, you can visit the Understood Care website or call the main number to schedule a time that works for you.

References

• https://consumer.ftc.gov/scams
• https://consumer.ftc.gov/features/how-stop-unwanted-calls
• https://www.donotcall.gov
• https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-avoid-government-impersonation-scam
• https://consumer.ftc.gov/features/pass-it-on/impersonator-scams/grandkid-scams
• https://consumer.ftc.gov/features/pass-it-on/health-insurance-scams
• https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/spot-health-insurance-scams
• https://reportfraud.ftc.gov
• https://www.medicare.gov/basics/reporting-medicare-fraud-and-abuse
• https://www.medicare.gov/publications/10111-protecting-yourself-from-fraud.pdf
• https://oig.hhs.gov/fraud/report-fraud
• https://oig.hhs.gov/fraud/consumer-alerts/fraud-alert-genetic-testing-scam
• https://oig.hhs.gov/newsroom/videos/genetic-testing-fraud-alert
• https://www.ic3.gov
• https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/stop-unwanted-robocalls-and-texts
• https://www.healthcare.gov/protect-from-fraud-and-scams
• https://www.cms.gov/marketplace/outreach-and-education/protect-yourself-from-fraud-in-ealth-insurance-marketplace.pdf‍
• https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/blog/2024/04/new-ftc-data-spotlight-offers-illuminating-insights-impersonation-scams‍

This content is educational and is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider for personalized care.