Protecting yourself from identity theft

Identity theft is a serious crime that happens when someone uses your personal information without your consent to commit Medicare fraud or other crimes. Use the following tips to protect yourself from becoming an identity theft victim.

Do:

• Protect your Medicare Number and your Social Security Number.
• Guard your Medicare card like it’s a credit card.
• Become familiar with how Medicare uses your personal information. If you join a Medicare health or drug plan, the plan will let you know how it will use your personal information.
• Remember that Medicare will never call you to sell you anything or visit you at your home. Medicare, or someone representing Medicare, will only call and ask for personal information in these 2 situations:A Medicare health or drug plan may call you if you’re already a member of the plan. The agent who helped you join can also call you.
• A customer service representative from 1-800-MEDICARE can call you if you’ve called and left a message or a representative said that someone would call you back.
• Contact the Federal Trade Commission if you think you’ve been a victim of identity theft.

don’t:

• Give your Medicare card, Medicare Number, Social Security card, or Social Security Number to anyone except your doctor or people you know should have it (like insurers acting on your behalf or people who work with Medicare, like your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). Get the contact information for your local SHIP.
• Accept offers of money or gifts for free medical care.
• Allow anyone, except your doctor or other Medicare providers, to review your medical records or recommend services.
• Join a Medicare health or drug plan over the phone unless you called Medicare.