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Ins. Commissioner warns of new Medicare scam circulating

Delaware Public Media
Delaware is sending out new Medicare cards to replace the current ones starting next month.

Medicare beneficiaries in Delaware are being urged to be aware of a new Medicare scam.

 

Starting next month, Delaware will send out new Medicare cards to replace the current ones.  Social Security numbers have been removed and replaced with a new unique number. There is no charge for the new cards and benefits will not change.  

But scammers are using this change to try to take advantage of Medicare beneficiaries, according to Delaware Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro.

“This is the latest scam that we’ve seen, sadly for Delaware senior citizens. Essentially they are reaching out to folks through the phone and calling unsuspecting victims homes and asking them or explaining to them that the new Medicare cards will now cost anywhere from $5 to $50,” said Navarro.

Narvarro emphasizes that Medicare will not call you unless you ask.  He says this scam, like others, aims to get your personal information and credit card numbers. He notes scammers can be very intimidating, but you should never give out any personal information over the phone.

New Medicare cards will arrive in the mail sometime between April 1, 2018 and April 1, 2019.  You should shred your old card as soon as you get the new one.

 
Navarro adds the Delaware Medicare Assistance Bureau is available to help you navigate the complexities of Medicare. The DMAB phone number is 674-7364.

Kelli Steele has over 30 years of experience covering news in Delaware, Baltimore, Winchester, Virginia, Phoenix, Arizona and San Diego, California.