Medicare 2026

How Medicare fraud targets card numbers in Manchester

MANCHESTER, N.H. — Your red, white, and blue Medicare card looks simple, but the number on it opens the door to your health benefits and your personal health history. If a scammer gets it, they can bill Medicare for services you never received, tie up your records, and sometimes even affect the care you can get later.

Your Medicare card is a key — treat it like one

The good news: a few plain habits can keep your number safe. And if something does go wrong, there are free, trusted people in New Hampshire who can help you sort it out.

Who should — and shouldn't — see your Medicare number

Share your Medicare number only with people you know should have it:

• Your doctors, hospitals, pharmacists, and their billing staff
• Your insurer, if you have a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, or a Medigap policy
• Trusted people who help with your care, like a spouse, adult child, or caregiver
• 1-800-MEDICARE, if you called them

Be cautious with everyone else. Medicare will not call, text, email, or knock on your door to ask for your number. They already have it. If someone contacts you out of the blue and asks for your Medicare number, Social Security number, or bank details, that's a red flag — no matter how official they sound.

Common scams to watch for

Scammers get creative, but most schemes fall into a few familiar patterns:

• "Free" offers. A caller offers a free brace, DNA test, diabetic supplies, or COVID test kit — they just need your Medicare number to "process" it. Medicare gets billed for expensive equipment you may never use.
• Fake plan callers. Someone claims to be from Medicare or a well-known insurer and pressures you to "verify" your number or sign up right now. Real agents don't cold-call Medicare beneficiaries or use pressure tactics.
• New card scams. A caller says you need a new card, a plastic card, or a "chip card" — for a fee. You don't. Replacement Medicare cards are free from Medicare.
• Refund and threat calls. Someone says Medicare owes you money, or that your benefits will be cancelled unless you confirm information. Hang up.

If a call feels wrong, it's fine to hang up. You're not being rude — you're being smart.

How to check your statements

One of the best fraud defenses is simply looking at your paperwork.

• If you have Original Medicare, review your quarterly Medicare Summary Notice (MSN).
• If you have a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, review your monthly Explanation of Benefits (EOB).
• Or log in anytime at MyMedicare.gov to see recent claims.

Look for services or equipment you didn't get, duplicate charges, or a provider's name you don't recognize. Small billing errors happen, but a pattern is worth reporting.

What to do if you think your number is exposed

Take a breath — this is fixable. Manchester is in Hillsborough County, and New Hampshire has free help available statewide.

1. Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to report suspicious charges or a lost card. 2. Contact the New Hampshire Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) — they specialize in Medicare fraud, errors, and abuse, and their help is free and confidential. 3. Reach out to ServiceLink, New Hampshire's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), for one-on-one guidance on your Medicare questions. 4. If your identity may be broadly compromised, place a fraud alert with the major credit bureaus and consider filing a report at IdentityTheft.gov.

Medicare can issue a new number in serious cases of identity theft. It's rare, but the option exists.

A few simple habits that go a long way

• Keep your card in a safe place at home; carry it only when you need it.
• Don't post photos of your card on social media (yes, it happens).
• Shred old MSNs, EOBs, and pharmacy labels before tossing them.
• Keep a simple calendar of doctor visits so you can match them against statements later.
• If a family member helps you with Medicare, agree on who checks the mail and the online account.