Alyssa Lane
As you approach the age of 65, you may start receiving a high volume of calls about Medicare insurance. Many of these calls are scams designed to obtain your personal information, sales calls from telemarketers, or agents trying to sell you a different plan. These calls can be disruptive, especially when you receive multiple calls per day, and they can also be used to gather information that can be used to commit crimes. Luckily, there are several effective measures you can take to block these unwanted calls and protect your privacy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How to block Medicare insurance calls | Add your phone number to the national Do Not Call list at DoNotCall.gov or call 1-888-382-1222 |
| How to identify Medicare scam calls | Use of a recorded message, asking you to press 1 to be removed from the calling list, offering free medical supplies, pressuring you to give sensitive information, claiming to be from Medicare or a legitimate healthcare insurance provider, asking for your Medicare number, asking for your credit card number, claiming you're owed a refund, unsolicited calls, brochures, or visits |
| What to do if you receive a scam call | Never give out your personal information, report the call to the Federal Trade Commission using the FTC Complaint Assistant, file a formal complaint with the FCC, install a call blocker on your smartphone, use a robocall blocking service for your landline |
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What You'll Learn
Register your number on the national Do Not Call list
It is important to note that registering your number will not stop all unwanted calls. Legitimate companies will stop calling you, but scammers may not. After your number has been on the list for 31 days, you can start reporting unwanted sales calls. If registering your number does not stop the calls, you can file a formal complaint with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). You can do this by printing and faxing a form to the FCC or by filing a complaint on their website.
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Install a call blocker on your smartphone
To stop unwanted Medicare insurance calls, one option is to install a call blocker on your smartphone. Both iPhones and Android phones have built-in features for blocking specific phone numbers, and mobile carriers offer their own blocking tools. However, if you want more advanced features, you can opt for third-party apps that are designed to block telemarketing calls.
There are several call-blocker apps available for smartphones that can help you manage and block unwanted calls. These apps can identify who is calling and block the call if the number is listed as unknown or spam. Some popular apps include:
- Hiya (formerly White Pages Caller ID and Call Blocker): Hiya offers caller ID and call-blocking features. It analyzes billions of calls each month to provide context for incoming calls. Hiya is available for Android and iOS phones.
- Call Control: This free app provides reverse phone lookup along with call blocking and SMS blocking. It has an intuitive interface and works with a community blocklist that collects scam numbers via user reports. Call Control is available for Android and iOS devices.
- Should I Answer: This app has a database of user reviews that grows by 30,000 new reviews daily. It blocks calls and categorizes numbers into groups for better filtering. It is available for Android and iOS phones.
- ActiveArmor : This free app, available for iOS and Android, filters potential fraud and spam calls, labels telemarketers, and sends unknown callers to voicemail. It also checks your passcodes and provides data breach alerts.
- Verizon Call Filter : Verizon offers this service to customers with compatible iOS and Android phones and postpaid plans. The free version detects and filters spam calls, alerts you about likely spam, and lets you report unsolicited numbers.
- T-Mobile Scam Shield : This app, available for iOS and Android, features enhanced Caller ID. It verifies legitimate calls and warns you about spam. It also provides an extra proxy phone number and the option to change your real number annually.
In addition to these apps, there are many other call-blocker apps available with various features and compatibility options. It's important to review the specifications and choose the app that best fits your needs and device.
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Use a robocall blocking service for your landline
If you're tired of receiving unwanted Medicare insurance calls on your landline, you can consider using a robocall blocking service. Robocalls are automated calls that often deliver pre-recorded messages. These calls can be a nuisance, especially when they interrupt your day with unwanted sales pitches or scams. Here are some detailed steps and options to help you block these intrusive calls:
Understand the National Do Not Call Registry: The National Do Not Call Registry is a list that protects both landline and wireless phone numbers from receiving telemarketing calls. You can register your landline phone number on this list by calling 1-888-382-1222. After registering, telemarketers are required to remove your number from their call lists within 31 days. It's important to note that scam callers may not abide by this registry, but registering your number can still help reduce legitimate telemarketing calls.
Explore carrier-provided blocking services: Major phone carriers like Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T offer their own call-blocking services. For example, Verizon provides the Call Filter service, which detects and filters spam calls, alerts you about potential spam risks, and allows you to report unsolicited numbers. T-Mobile offers Scam Shield, an app that provides enhanced Caller ID and warning indicators for spam calls. These carrier-provided services can be convenient and effective in blocking unwanted robocalls.
Utilize third-party blocking apps: There are several third-party apps available that can help block robocalls and spam calls. Here are some popular options:
- Hiya: Available for iOS and Android, Hiya warns you about robocalls and scam calls by using a database of known scammers and telemarketers. It can detect spoofed calls and allows you to type a number into the app to identify its source.
- RoboKiller: Compatible with iOS and Android, RoboKiller blocks spam calls and automatically answers them with pre-recorded responses to waste the spammers' time.
- Nomorobo: Nomorobo offers AI-powered call and text blocking to protect your phone from unwanted interruptions. It works with VoIP landlines and is completely free for landline protection.
- TrueCaller and Call Control: These apps also provide effective call-blocking features and premium tiers with additional functionality.
Contact your phone company: Your phone company may offer specific call-blocking tools or recommendations tailored to your landline service. They can guide you through any built-in features or compatible third-party solutions that can help reduce robocalls.
By taking advantage of these robocall blocking services and resources, you can significantly reduce the number of unwanted Medicare insurance calls you receive on your landline. Remember to stay vigilant and never give out personal information to unknown callers.
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Report the call to the Federal Trade Commission
If you receive unwanted calls from scammers pretending to be from Medicare or a legitimate healthcare insurance provider, you can report the call to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
The FTC Complaint Assistant allows you to report a government impersonator. After filing a complaint, remain vigilant about Medicare-related calls. Do not give out your personal information or sign up for any online service that hasn't been thoroughly vetted.
Medicare and legitimate insurance companies will not ask for your personal information over the phone. They will send you a letter via postal mail if they require information to process your application or benefits. If you receive a call from Medicare or an insurance company asking for your Medicare number, hang up and call them back using a phone number on an account statement, in the phone book, or on an official website to verify the caller's authenticity.
You can also contact your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) to help you deal with Medicare enrollment choices and avoid scams. These organizations offer free, expert, and unbiased counseling to Medicare-eligible people and their families.
Additionally, you can install a call blocker on your smartphone and have your telephone company provide a robocall blocking service for your landline to reduce the number of scam calls.
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Never give out personal information
If you're enrolled in Medicare or receive Social Security benefits, it's important to remember that Medicare and Social Security will never ask for information over the phone. If they require any information, they will contact you via postal mail. Scammers, on the other hand, frequently use the Medicare program to target older adults and attempt to trick them into buying unnecessary products or signing up for services they don't need. They may also try to steal your personal information to commit identity theft.
To avoid becoming a victim of Medicare scam calls, it is crucial that you never give out your personal information over the phone. Here are some specific guidelines to follow:
- Never provide your Social Security number over the phone. Your Social Security number is the key to your identity, and sharing it over the phone puts you at risk of identity theft, credit card fraud, and bank account fraud.
- Be cautious when giving out your full name, birth date, and address. Only share this information when you have initiated the call. Do not provide this information if you are answering a call or returning a missed call from a voicemail or email.
- Do not give out your credit or debit card number unless you have initiated the call and are making a legitimate purchase. Criminals may pretend to represent a legitimate company to gain access to your financial information.
- Be vigilant for common scams. For example, scammers may offer you free medical supplies or drugs in exchange for your Medicare number and financial information. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Medicare will never ask you to verify your information before issuing a refund, nor will they request your banking details.
- Be cautious of unsolicited calls, brochures, or visits from individuals claiming to be Medicare representatives, especially during the open enrollment period. Medicare will not contact you directly without first sending you a letter.
- Install a call blocker on your smartphone and consider using a robocall blocking service for your landline to reduce the number of scam calls you receive.
Remember, the goal is to minimise the amount of personal information you share over the phone to reduce the risk of identity theft and fraud.
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Frequently asked questions
You can add your phone number to the Do Not Call Registry by calling (888) 382-1222 or by visiting DoNotCall.gov. You will then receive an email to verify your request. After 31 days, you can start reporting unwanted sales calls. You can also install call-blocking apps on your smartphone.
Medicare scam calls are when criminals pretend to be from Medicare or a legitimate healthcare insurance provider. They often use phone spoofing technology to manipulate your Caller ID. They will try to get your personal information, such as your Medicare number, Social Security number, full name, and address.
If you receive a Medicare scam call, you can report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) using the FTC Complaint Assistant. You can also file a formal complaint with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) by printing and faxing a form or by filing a complaint on their website.
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