Free help that has nothing to sell you
The most common problem older adults describe is not a lack of information but a surplus of it, most of it from someone earning a commission. There are three sources that are not selling anything.
- Your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) — free one-to-one Medicare counselling, in every state.
- 1-800-MEDICARE — the official Medicare helpline, available around the clock.
- Your local Area Agency on Aging — help with benefits, transport, meals and in-home support.
Programs that lower what you pay
Millions of people who qualify for these never apply, usually because nobody told them the programs exist.
| Program | What it helps with | How to start |
|---|---|---|
| Extra Help (Part D Low-Income Subsidy) | Prescription drug premiums, deductibles and copays | Apply through Social Security |
| Medicare Savings Programs | Part B premiums, and sometimes deductibles and coinsurance | Apply through your state Medicaid agency |
| Medicaid (dual eligibility) | Costs Medicare does not cover, including long-term services | State Medicaid agency |
| State pharmaceutical assistance | Drug costs, where your state runs a program | Ask your SHIP counsellor |
The scam patterns that target older adults
These recur every year, and they intensify during Medicare Open Enrollment in October to December when marketing volume is highest.
- A caller claiming to be from Medicare who needs to verify your number. Medicare does not do this.
- Free braces, genetic test kits, or medical equipment offered in exchange for your Medicare number.
- A new Medicare card that requires a fee or your bank details. Medicare cards are free.
- A plan salesperson who arrives unannounced at your door — unsolicited in-person marketing of Medicare plans is prohibited.
- Anyone insisting you must decide today or lose your benefits.
- A caller who already knows some of your details. Knowing your name and address proves nothing.
If it has already happened
There is no embarrassment in this: these operations are professional and they target everyone. Act quickly and use the free routes.
Call 1-800-MEDICARE and your plan, report to IdentityTheft.gov, contact your bank if any payment details were given, and tell your SHIP counsellor so they can help check your statements. If services you never received appear on a Medicare Summary Notice, read our medical identity theft page for the record-correction steps.