Every year from October 15 through December 7, Medicare beneficiaries can change their coverage for the following year. And every year, scammers flood phone lines pretending to help seniors compare plans — while actually collecting Medicare numbers and personal information for fraud.
A caller claims to be from "Medicare" or a "Medicare plan comparison service" and says you need to review your coverage before the enrollment deadline or you'll lose benefits. They ask for your Medicare number, Social Security number, and bank account information to "update your records." They're not from Medicare — they're stealing your identity.
What real Medicare open enrollment looks like
Real Medicare plan comparison help is available free through the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). In Tennessee, the SHIP program is called TennCare CHOICES and the helpline is 1-877-801-0044. These are real counselors who provide free, unbiased help — and they never ask for your Medicare number to discuss your options.
Legitimate Medicare plan information
You can compare real Medicare plans at medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE. Licensed insurance agents can also help — but they should never pressure you to decide immediately, and you should always verify they are licensed in Tennessee before sharing personal information.
- Unsolicited calls about your Medicare plan
- Caller claims you must act before a deadline or lose coverage
- Asked for your Medicare number, SSN, or banking information
- Pressure to switch plans immediately on the call
- Caller offers gifts, free meals, or cash to discuss your Medicare plan
- Tennessee SHIP (free counseling): 1-877-801-0044
- Medicare.gov: Official plan comparison tool
- 1-800-MEDICARE: For questions about your coverage
- Report Medicare fraud: 1-800-MEDICARE or oig.hhs.gov
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