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Stay Safe from Medicare Fraud
Medicare fraud is a serious problem — but knowing these basics can help you protect yourself.
To avoid fraud, it helps to know how to tell a scam from a real request — and what you can expect from Devoted Health and Medicare.
If you suspect fraud, don’t give out any personal information. Call a number you trust, like 1-800-DEVOTED or 1-800-MEDICARE.
How to see through a scam
Next time you get a call, email, or text you think could be a scam, take a minute to think about these questions.
Are they asking for personal information?
Scammers want money and information that gets them money. If someone wants your password, banking info, or Social Security number, be wary. Never share your password. Someone contacting you for banking details or a Social Security Number is almost never legit.
Is this a message you expected?
You might get fake emails to reset a password. Fake text messages about packages that can't be delivered. An "IRS agent" calling out of the blue. These are all common scams. Don’t click any links or give out private info unless you’re 100 percent sure who you’re dealing with.
Are they telling you it’s urgent and you need to act NOW?
Scammers will threaten that you’re about to be arrested. Or owe a big fine. Or have a loved one in danger. These are all mind games to cause panic and stress so they can take advantage of you. Take a breath instead. Put the phone down for a minute and count slowly to ten. Very few things in life demand instant action.
Does it sound too good to be true?
If you get a call or message that you’ve won some lottery or drawing you don’t remember entering, it’s a scam. Any offer that sounds too good to be true is a lie.
Do you see spelling errors?
Typos in emails and texts are common signs of a scam. Look closely at email addresses and check links for misspellings too. One popular hoax email during COVID claimed to be from the “Jon Hopkins Medical Center." But it’s actually the Johns Hopkins Medical Center.
Are they asking for money in a very specific way?
Scammers might insist on cryptocurrency. Or wiring money. Or putting money on a gift card. Don’t believe it. The stranger the request for money, the more likely it’s a scam. Think about it. If you owed a toll or a bank fee, would they ask you to pay in cryptocurrency? Nope.
Bottom line
Trust your gut. If someone says they’re from a company or organization you know, call that place directly to confirm it’s true. Or call someone you trust, like a friend or family member, for a second opinion. Taking an extra few minutes to make a call can spare you major problems.
What to expect from Devoted Health
If you owe us money, we'll send you a bill in the mail. We never ask for money in person, over the phone, or online.
All letters from us will have the Devoted logo and a return address in Eagan, MN (PO Box 211037). And bills will always have your Devoted Health Member ID on them. If you're not sure whether a bill or letter is really from us, give us a call at 1-800-DEVOTED and we can check.
We may call, text, or email you, but we'll never ask for your Social Security number or bank information.
When you get a call from us, we'll ask a few questions to check that we're speaking with the right person. For example, we may ask you to confirm your birthday or your address. This helps us make sure we don't share your private health information with anyone else.
If someone calls and you're not sure if they're really from Devoted Health, hang up and call 1-800-DEVOTED. We can tell you whether it was a real call from us — and if it was, we can reconnect you with the right person.
Tip: Add these numbers to your cell phone's contacts. That way, you'll know it's us when we call. And if you need us urgently, the number will already be there.
- 1-800-DEVOTED (1-800-338-6833), our main phone number
- 866-85, the number we use to send text messages
- 1-888-80-CARE-8 (1-888-802-2738), the main phone number for Devoted Medical
- 837-32, the number for text messages from Devoted Medical
We'll only come to your home if you've made an appointment.
If you're not sure whether you have an appointment, call us at 1-800-DEVOTED before you let anyone into your home. We can look up whether you have an at-home visit scheduled with Devoted Health or our Devoted Medical partners.
www.Devoted.com and my.devoted.com are the official Devoted Health websites.
Our partners may have their own websites for specific benefits, like the Food & Home Card.
But we'll never ask you to share private information like your Social Security number, Medicare number, or bank or credit card information. If you're not sure, give us a call at 1-800-DEVOTED and we can help you figure it out.
What to expect from Medicare
Medicare will never call you — unless you’ve given them permission in advance.
If you get a call from someone claiming to be Medicare, don’t give them your Medicare number or any other personal information. Hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE.
Medicare will never visit you at your home.
If someone comes by and claims to be from Medicare, don’t give them any personal information — and don’t sign any papers or forms they give you.
www.Medicare.gov is the official Medicare website.
If you’re searching for Medicare information online, always start at www.Medicare.gov. Beware of ads or copycat websites that try to look like Medicare.gov.
Your Devoted Health card is the only card you need.
Once you’re on a Medicare Advantage plan like Devoted Health, keep your red, white, and blue Medicare card at home in a safe place.