These days, Medicare flex card scams targeting seniors are increasingly common. So how can you tell whether a flex card offer is real? And what should you do if you think you’re being scammed?
Let’s look at how Medicare flex cards work, how to spot a flex card scam and how you can protect yourself.
Medicare flex cards and how they work
Medicare flex cards are prepaid debit cards you can use on health and wellness benefits like hearing, vision, dental and more. This card is exclusive to Medicare Advantage plans – Original Medicare doesn’t offer flex cards. And not all Medicare Advantage plans provide this benefit.
To see if your current Medicare Advantage plan offers a flex card, check the plan documents you received when you enrolled in your plan. You can also call the number on the back of your member ID card to talk with a plan representative.
If your plan doesn’t offer a flex card and you’re interested in getting one, look for a Medicare Advantage plan that offers flex cards when shopping for coverage.
How Medicare flex card scams work
Like most forms of fraud, Medicare flex card scams center around obtaining personal information or getting you to pay for fake offers. This is usually done through fake ads or through fraudulent phone calls or emails. Watch out for anyone claiming to need your:
- Social Security number
- Credit card number
- Bank account information
- Medicare account number
Common Medicare flex card scams
Medicare flex cards can be a wonderful benefit for those with a Medicare Advantage plan. And with good reason – the allure of a flexible spending card is a draw for prospective beneficiaries. However, like any service or product, this means it can also be used as a selling point by those with bad intentions.
A common scam technique is a fake advertisement urging people to “apply” for a card through a nonsecure website or scam phone number. With another common technique, someone claiming to be a Medicare representative calls or emails you and offers a flex card as an additional benefit. These scammers ask you for personal information or some form of payment to have your card sent to your home or added to your plan.
Warning signs and how to protect yourself
The best way to avoid falling victim to a Medicare flex card scam is by staying informed. If you know what a flex card is, how it works and common scamming techniques, you’ll have the tools you need to protect yourself. Here are some important things you should know.
Medicare representatives will never call you
Don’t ever give your personal information to someone who claims to be calling you from Medicare about a flex card. Medicare reps won’t ever contact you directly to talk about your plan benefits. And keep in mind that Original Medicare does not offer a flex card – this benefit is only available through private Medicare Advantage plans.
Medicare flex cards cannot be purchased
If anyone contacts you offering to sell you a Medicare flex card, be very wary. Flex cards are not available independent of insurance coverage – they are a plan benefit, and some cards may require that you meet specific criteria first before you can get a card.
Medicare Advantage: Always make sure you’re speaking to the right person
If you have a Medicare Advantage plan and someone from your insurance company calls you about a flex card, hang up and call the number on your Medicare ID card. By calling back, you’ll know you are speaking to a legitimate representative.
Understand the psychology of scamming
Many people looking to scam use similar techniques. Having a base understanding of the psychology of scamming can go a long way.
Many scammers try to fabricate a sense of urgency through scare tactics. By scaring you and getting you to act on impulse, the fraudster increases their chance of achieving their goals.
They also try to confuse by providing a lot of fake, frightening information. And they take advantage of the isolation some older Americans experience.
If you feel you’re being scammed, step back. Hang up or walk away from your computer. And remember, a real Medicare representative will never pressure you to make a quick decision regarding your coverage before you have a chance to double check information or discuss coverage with a loved one. Also, if you believe you’re experiencing a Medicare scamming attempt, you can call 1-800-MEDICARE to report the potential scam – a representative will be available 24/7 to help you with anything you need.