4.2.20 | Courtesy of Medicare.gov
Scammers may use the coronavirus national emergency to take advantage of people while they’re distracted. As always, guard your Medicare card like a credit card and if someone calls asking for your Medicare Number, hang up!
It’s easy to get distracted and let your guard down during these uncertain times. Scammers might lie about sending you Coronavirus vaccines, tests, masks, or other items in exchange for your Medicare Number or personal information. This is a scam.
Protect yourself from scams
- Only share your Medicare Number with your primary and specialty care doctors, participating Medicare pharmacist, hospital, health insurer, or other trusted healthcare provider.
- Check your Medicare claims summary forms for errors.
- Visit medicare.gov/fraud for more information on protecting yourself from fraud and reporting suspected fraud.
Medicare covers related needs for COVID-19
- Medicare covers the lab tests for COVID-19. You pay no out-of-pocket costs.
- Medicare covers all medically necessary hospitalizations. This includes if you’re diagnosed with COVID-19 and might otherwise have been discharged from the hospital after an inpatient stay, but instead you need to stay in the hospital under quarantine.
- At this time, there’s no vaccine for COVID-19. However, if one becomes available, it will be covered by all Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (Part D).
- If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, you have access to these same benefits. Medicare allows these plans to waive cost-sharing for COVID-19 lab tests. Many plans offer additional telehealth benefits beyond the ones described below. Check with your plan about your coverage and costs.
To learn more about Medicare and COVID-19 measures, visit medicare.gov.