Learn About Stopping Unwanted Medicare Sales Calls

Understanding Medicare Sales Calls and Why They Happen

Medicare sales calls have become a widespread concern for millions of beneficiaries. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the FTC's Consumer Sentinel received over 4.8 million complaints related to unwanted calls and texts in 2022, with Medicare-related calls representing a significant portion of that volume. These calls often come from insurance agents, brokers, and companies trying to sell Medicare Advantage plans, supplemental insurance, or other products and services.

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Insurance companies and brokers make these calls because Medicare represents a valuable market. When you turn 65 and enroll in Medicare, your information enters systems that many companies can legally access for marketing purposes. This is particularly true during the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 through December 7 each year), when beneficiaries can make changes to their coverage. During this window, call volume increases dramatically as companies attempt to reach potential customers.

It's important to understand that not all Medicare-related calls are scams. Some are legitimate marketing calls from real insurance companies offering real products. However, legitimate companies and scams can be difficult to distinguish, which is why learning to identify and block unwanted calls matters. The challenge is that many callers use aggressive tactics, call repeatedly, or present misleading information about coverage options.

Scammers specifically target Medicare beneficiaries because they know seniors often have accumulated savings and may be less familiar with current technology-based fraud tactics. Some callers falsely claim to represent Medicare itself, which is a red flag—the actual Medicare program does not call people to sell products or ask for personal information.

Takeaway: Medicare sales calls are common and largely legal when made by real insurance companies, but you have the right to refuse them and block them from reaching you. Understanding the source of these calls helps you make informed decisions about managing them.

Identifying Unwanted and Fraudulent Medicare Calls

Recognizing the difference between legitimate calls and problematic ones is the first step in protecting yourself. Legitimate insurance agents calling about Medicare products will identify their company name, explain why they're calling, and typically ask if it's a good time to talk. They will not be evasive about their identity or pressure you into immediate decisions.

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Red flags that indicate a call may be unwanted or fraudulent include callers claiming to represent "Medicare" directly, claiming your benefits will be taken away if you don't act, requesting your Social Security number or Medicare number upfront, offering free products that sound too good to be true, using high-pressure sales tactics, or calling repeatedly despite your requests to stop. If a caller says something like "Your Medicare coverage is changing" or "You're losing your current plan," these are common scare tactics designed to create panic and cloud your judgment.

Real Medicare information comes from Medicare.gov, Social Security, or your official Medicare documents. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) does not call beneficiaries to sell products. If you're unsure whether a caller represents a real company, you can hang up and call the company directly using a phone number you find independently—not a number the caller provides.

Some specific examples of fraudulent schemes include callers offering "free" genetic testing or diabetic supplies in exchange for Medicare information, promising to help you get "free money" from Medicare, claiming you've won a Medicare prize or lottery, or stating that the IRS or Social Security is involved in a problem with your account. These are universally fraudulent.

Keep in mind that even calls from real insurance companies can feel aggressive or unwanted. You have the right to decline any call, even from a legitimate business. Your preferences matter, and blocking calls is a reasonable way to manage unsolicited contact.

Takeaway: Learn to recognize common phrases and pressure tactics used in unwanted Medicare calls. When in doubt, hang up and independently verify any claim by contacting the organization directly through their official website or published phone number.

Legal Methods to Stop Unwanted Medicare Calls

Several legal tools and strategies can reduce or eliminate unwanted Medicare sales calls. The most straightforward approach is the National Do Not Call Registry, managed by the FTC. You can register your phone number at donotcallregistry.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222 from the phone you want to register. This registry legally requires telemarketers to stop calling you, with some exceptions. However, it does not prevent calls from companies with which you have an existing business relationship, political organizations, charities, or certain other entities.

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Many robocalls violate the Do Not Call Registry or use spoofed numbers (fake caller IDs), which makes the registry less effective for blocking these calls. For this reason, most people need to use additional tools. Your phone carrier likely offers call-blocking features. Verizon offers Call Filter, AT&T offers Call Protect, and T-Mobile offers Scam Shield. These services, often available at no cost, use technology to identify and block suspected spam and scam calls automatically or alert you before you answer.

Third-party apps such as RoboKiller, Nomorobo, and Truecaller provide additional layers of protection. These apps use databases of known scam numbers, machine learning, and community reports to identify unwanted calls. Some are free with basic features, while others charge a monthly fee for advanced protection. Nomorobo, for example, can be added to your landline through your carrier at no cost and blocks known robocalls.

On your phone itself, you can use built-in features. iPhones allow you to silence unknown callers, send calls from unknown numbers directly to voicemail, and block specific numbers. Android phones offer similar features through apps like Google Phone, which includes a spam detection function. When you receive an unwanted call, you can block that number immediately.

Another strategy is to be selective about sharing your phone number. Avoid entering your phone number on public websites, unvetted online forms, or contest entries. The more places your number exists, the more likely scammers can access it through data breaches.

Takeaway: Register with the National Do Not Call Registry, activate your carrier's call-blocking service, and use your phone's built-in blocking features. Combining multiple approaches creates the strongest defense against unwanted calls.

What to Do When You Receive an Unwanted Medicare Call

If you receive an unwanted Medicare sales call, your first action should be to hang up. You are under no obligation to listen to a sales pitch or answer questions. Hanging up is safe, legal, and effective. If you're concerned the caller might be legitimate, you can always investigate on your own time by looking up the company or calling them back through a verified number.

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Do not provide personal information to unsolicited callers. This includes your Social Security number, Medicare number, bank account information, credit card numbers, date of birth, or address. Legitimate companies conducting business with you will already have the information they need. If a caller claims they need to "verify" your information, this is often a sign of a scam—hang up and contact the organization independently.

After hanging up, you can take steps to prevent similar calls. Block the number on your phone. Report the call to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or call 1-877-438-4338. You can also report suspected Medicare fraud directly to the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General by calling 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477) or visiting oig.hhs.gov. The more reports authorities receive about a particular number or scheme, the more action they can take.

If you've already given information to a caller you now suspect was fraudulent, monitor your accounts carefully for unauthorized activity. Check your Medicare Summary Notice for services you didn't receive, review your credit card and bank statements for unfamiliar charges, and consider placing a fraud alert with credit bureaus. You can contact Equifax (1-888-378-4329), Experian (1-888-397-3742), or TransUnion (1-800-680-7289) to request a fraud alert, which makes it harder for someone to open accounts in your name.

If you've given your Medicare number to a scammer, contact Medicare directly at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to discuss the situation and monitor your account for fraudulent claims.

Takeaway: Hang up on unwanted callers, block their number