How Do You Avoid Medicare Scam Calls During AEP?

Never share your Medicare number with unexpected callers, hang up on high-pressure offers, and report suspicious calls to 1-800-MEDICARE. Scammers spike activity during Annual Election Period (AEP) when beneficiaries expect legitimate outreach. Affordable Medicare Quote helps licensed agents run compliant, documented campaigns so beneficiaries can distinguish real enrollment help from fraud.

What do scam calls usually sound like?

Scam calls often pressure you to "confirm" your Medicare number immediately, offer free services or gifts in exchange for personal information, or claim your benefits will be canceled unless you act now. Fraudsters may pose as Medicare representatives, insurance agents, or government officials using caller-ID spoofing to display official-looking numbers.

Scam calls often pressure you to "confirm" your Medicare number immediately, offer free services or gifts in exchange for personal information, or claim your benefits will be canceled unless you act now. Fraudsters may pose as Medicare representatives, insurance agents, or government officials using caller-ID spoofing to display official-looking numbers. Legitimate licensed agents will never demand your Medicare number before explaining who they represent, never promise "zero-cost" plans without reviewing your situation, and never threaten benefit loss. During AEP, scammers exploit the surge in marketing calls to blend in with lawful agent outreach.

Red flags:

• Immediate pressure to "verify" your number
• Promises of free medical equipment or gift cards
• Threats that your card will be deactivated
• Requests for banking or Social Security details on the first call
• Refusal to provide a license number or callback number

Who should you share your Medicare number with?

Share your Medicare number only with your doctor, hospital, pharmacist, licensed insurance agent you contacted or verified, or official Medicare representatives you called yourself using the number on your card. If an agent calls you, ask for their National Producer Number (NPN), agency name, and a callback number you can verify on your state Department of Insurance website.

Share your Medicare number only with your doctor, hospital, pharmacist, licensed insurance agent you contacted or verified, or official Medicare representatives you called yourself using the number on your card. If an agent calls you, ask for their National Producer Number (NPN), agency name, and a callback number you can verify on your state Department of Insurance website. Check the agent's license before sharing any personal details. Medicare will never call unsolicited to ask for your number; if you need help, dial 1-800-MEDICARE yourself.

Safe disclosures:

• Healthcare providers billing Medicare for services you received
• Licensed agents you scheduled an appointment with
• Phone numbers you dialed from the back of your Medicare card
• State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) counselors you contacted

How do you report suspected fraud?

Report suspected Medicare fraud by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), filing online at Medicare.gov/fraud, or contacting your state's Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) program. When you report, provide the caller's phone number, the name or company they claimed, the date and time of the call, and what information they requested. You can also report identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission at IdentityTheft.gov.

Report suspected Medicare fraud by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), filing online at Medicare.gov/fraud, or contacting your state's Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) program. When you report, provide the caller's phone number, the name or company they claimed, the date and time of the call, and what information they requested. You can also report identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission at IdentityTheft.gov. Your state Department of Insurance can investigate unlicensed activity. Reporting helps CMS and law enforcement shut down scam operations and protect other beneficiaries.

What to include in your report:

• Phone number that appeared on caller ID
• Exact wording of threats or offers
• Any names, company names, or "agent numbers" provided
• Whether you disclosed any personal information

How do licensed agents comply with CMS marketing rules during AEP?

Licensed agents must identify themselves and their agency, disclose the scope of appointment, document consent before discussing plans, and never offer gifts or make unsolicited door-knocking visits without prior agreement. CMS marketing guidelines require agents to confirm the beneficiary's willingness to discuss Medicare before launching into plan details. Calls must respect the National Do Not Call Registry and honor TCPA consent rules.

Licensed agents must identify themselves and their agency, disclose the scope of appointment, document consent before discussing plans, and never offer gifts or make unsolicited door-knocking visits without prior agreement. CMS marketing guidelines require agents to confirm the beneficiary's willingness to discuss Medicare before launching into plan details. Calls must respect the National Do Not Call Registry and honor TCPA consent rules. Agents may not imply government affiliation, promise "no-cost" plans without a needs assessment, or pressure immediate enrollment. Compliant vendors timestamp consent and provide beneficiaries with the agent's license information up front.

CMS compliance markers:

• Clear agency name and NPN at the start of the call
• Verbal or recorded consent to discuss specific plan types
• No promises of free services in exchange for enrollment
• Respect for beneficiary's right to end the call at any time

How Affordable Medicare Quote handles this

Affordable Medicare Quote delivers live transfers, call backs, aged leads, and raw data exclusively to licensed agents who operate under documented TCPA consent and CMS marketing rules. Every campaign is filtered by the agent's licensed states so beneficiaries speak only with agents authorized to sell in their jurisdiction. Lead documentation includes timestamps and consent language, helping agents demonstrate compliance during audits. By partnering with properly licensed agencies, Affordable Medicare Quote supports the industry effort to separate legitimate enrollment help from the fraud that harms beneficiaries and damages agent reputations.

Affordable Medicare Quote delivers live transfers, call backs, aged leads, and raw data exclusively to licensed agents who operate under documented TCPA consent and CMS marketing rules. Every campaign is filtered by the agent's licensed states so beneficiaries speak only with agents authorized to sell in their jurisdiction. Lead documentation includes timestamps and consent language, helping agents demonstrate compliance during audits. By partnering with properly licensed agencies, Affordable Medicare Quote supports the industry effort to separate legitimate enrollment help from the fraud that harms beneficiaries and damages agent reputations.

Frequently asked questions

Can Medicare call you without your permission during AEP?

No. Medicare itself does not make unsolicited sales calls. Licensed agents may call if you submitted a request online or by phone, but they must confirm your consent before discussing plans.

What should you do if you already gave your Medicare number to a scammer?

Call 1-800-MEDICARE immediately to report the disclosure, monitor your Medicare Summary Notice for fraudulent claims, and consider placing a fraud alert with the credit bureaus if you shared other personal details.

Are robocalls for Medicare plans illegal?

Robocalls without prior written consent violate TCPA rules. Legitimate agents use live callers or obtain explicit permission before any automated messaging. Report illegal robocalls to 1-800-MEDICARE and the FTC.

How can you verify an agent's license before sharing information?

Ask for the agent's National Producer Number (NPN) and search it on your state Department of Insurance website. Confirm the license is active and covers Medicare products in your state.

Is it safe to answer Medicare-related calls during AEP?

It is safe if you initiated the contact or scheduled the appointment. For unexpected calls, ask for credentials, hang up, and call the agency back using a number you find independently to verify legitimacy.

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