Medicare: the real contact numbers

Medicare will never call you to sell you anything or visit you at your home. If a message or caller pushed you to ring a number, check it here first.

Last checked against medicare.gov on 1 November 2026.

Medicare · United States

Medicare 1-800-MEDICARE · United States 1-800-633-4227

1-800-MEDICARE1-800-633-4227

Matches medicare.gov, checked 1 November 2026

Medicare I-MEDIC (Medicare Advantage and drug plan fraud) · United States 1-877-772-3379

I-MEDIC (Medicare Advantage and drug plan fraud)1-877-772-3379

Medicare TTY · United States 1-877-486-2048

TTY1-877-486-2048

The real Medicare

Calls only in limited cases, like returning your call
Never calls to sell you anything
Never visits you at home
Never asks for gift cards
Never asks for your password

THE SCAM

"Your new Medicare card is ready. Confirm your number"
"You qualify for a free brace"
"Your benefits will stop unless you verify"
"We'll send someone to your home"
"Read me your Medicare Number"

This is what the fake warning looks like

This is what the fake text looks like

Your Medicare Number is for your doctor and plan
The web address is not medicare.gov
A deadline of hours is the trick
Don't tap the link. Delete the text.

SECURITY ALERT Medicare: Your benefits will be stopped today. Confirm your Medicare Number to keep your coverage: medicare-benefits-update.example

Illustration of a fake pop-up. The number shown is not real.

Medicare: Your benefits will be stopped today. Confirm your Medicare Number to keep your coverage: medicare-benefits-update.example

Illustration of a fake text. The link shown is not real.

Safer than calling

Your Medicare account

medicare.gov

Type it yourself. Never follow a link in a message.

1-800-MEDICARE

Call it yourself, from the number on this page.

Questions people ask

Is 1-800-633-4227 really Medicare?

Yes. It's 1-800-MEDICARE, listed on Medicare's own contact page. But a caller showing this number may still be a scammer, because caller ID can be faked. Hang up and call it yourself.

Does Medicare call people to sell plans or equipment?

No. In Medicare's words: "Remember that Medicare will never call you to sell you anything or visit you at your home." Hang up.

A caller wants my Medicare Number for a free product

Don't give it. Share your Medicare Number only with your doctor and people you know should have it, like your insurer. Hang up.

I think someone billed Medicare for things I didn't get

Check your Medicare claims, then call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) and say you suspect fraud. If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan or drug plan, you can also call I-MEDIC at 1-877-772-3379.

I gave my Medicare Number to a caller. What now?

Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) and tell them. Check your Medicare claims for anything you didn't get. Then go to What to do now.

Already shared your Medicare Number, or paid someone?

What to do now

Not sure about a message you've been sent?

Check it free