If Mom or Dad gets an email or text saying “Your MyChart Medicare Kit Awaits!”, please tell them not to click.
There is no free Medicare kit. MyChart, the patient portal many doctors use, doesn’t run giveaways. More than 40 health systems across the country have warned patients about these messages.
The scam uses the MyChart logo to look real, then asks for a card to cover a small fee. More charges follow. In one complaint to the FTC, a victim was charged $9.95, then hit with another $29.95. Other versions try to steal MyChart passwords or Medicare information.
A few simple rules worth sharing at the dinner table:
• Health portals don’t give away free products.
• A “free” item never needs your card, Social Security number, or Medicare number.
• When in doubt, call your doctor’s office using the number on your card or bill, not the one in the message.
• Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
With Medicare open enrollment running through December 7, scammers know seniors are watching their inbox closely.
Have real Medicare questions? We’re happy to connect you with Sandy, a trusted Medicare consultant we refer families to.
Have you talked with your parents about what a scam message looks like?
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