5 Common Medicare Scams in Florida and How to Protect Yourself
Florida is home to one of the largest populations of Medicare beneficiaries in the country. Unfortunately, that also means scammers frequently target seniors in the Sunshine State with schemes that can lead to identity theft, fraudulent medical billing, and loss of benefits.
Understanding the warning signs can help you stay safe. Here are the top five Medicare scams affecting Florida residents and the steps you can take to protect yourself.
1. Fake Callers Claiming to Be Medicare
Scammers often call pretending to be from Medicare or a government agency. They may say:
• Your Medicare card is expiring
• You must confirm your Medicare number
• You are owed a refund
What they really want is your Medicare number and personal information.
How to protect yourself:
• Medicare will never call and ask for your Medicare number
• Hang up if someone pressures you to act quickly
• Do not share any personal information with unsolicited callers
2. Genetic Test Fraud
This scam often shows up at health fairs, mailed to homes, or through door-to-door salespeople. Scammers promise a free DNA or cancer screening test, claiming that Medicare will cover it.
What actually happens is:
• Your Medicare number is stolen
• The test is not medically necessary
• Fraudulent claims are billed to Medicare
How to stay safe:
• Only take medical tests recommended by your doctor
• Decline any unsolicited lab screenings
• Verify the legitimacy of any health service before participating
3. Medical Equipment Scams
Scammers contact beneficiaries offering braces, walkers, or other equipment at no cost. In many cases:
• The product is unnecessary or never delivered
• Your Medicare number is used to submit false claims
• You may owe unexpected bills later
Protection tip:
• Medicare requires a doctor to prescribe durable medical equipment
• Never accept equipment you did not request
• Report suspicious offers to Medicare immediately
4. Fake Insurance Plan Enrollments
During Medicare enrollment periods, scammers pretend to be licensed agents. They offer plans that:
• Do not exist
• Do not include your doctors
• Leave you without real coverage
Safeguards:
• Work only with licensed Florida-based brokers
• Ask for a National Producer Number to verify licensing
• Review all plan documents before signing anything
A legitimate broker will never ask for payment for their services.
5. Phishing Emails and Medicare Website Look-Alikes
Scammers design emails and websites that look official and ask you to:
• Enter your Medicare number
• Provide your Social Security number
• Make a payment to stay enrolled
How to recognize fraud:
• Medicare will not email asking for sensitive information
• Look for incorrect spelling, strange formatting, or unusual links
• Always check that website addresses end in .gov for government pages
What to Do If You Think You Were Targeted
Take action as soon as something feels off. You can:
• Contact Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE
• Review your Medicare Summary Notices for unauthorized charges
• Notify your insurance broker for help identifying potential fraud
Quick reporting helps protect your coverage and prevents others from being harmed.
Local Support You Can Trust
As a licensed Florida Medicare broker, I help clients:
• Review Medicare bills and benefits
• Understand legitimate plan offerings
• Identify and avoid potential scams
• Safeguard personal and insurance information
You never have to navigate Medicare alone.
Call or Text: 386.229.5886
Website: www.coveredbytara.com
Medicare should provide peace of mind, not worry. With the right guidance and awareness, you can confidently protect your benefits and stay focused on the retirement you deserve.
