StateWide Highlights Medicare Card Scams as December Fraud Threat

The New York StateWide Senior Action Council (StateWide), a seasoned non-profit organization serving over 3.6 million seniors in New York, has identified Medicare Card Scams as the Medicare Fraud of the Month for December 2025. These scams involve fraudulent calls claiming the issuance of new Medicare cards or demanding verification of Medicare numbers to prevent coverage loss. Such calls are entirely fake and aim to steal personal information from seniors. StateWide operates as New York’s administrator for the federal Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) program, which supports older adults and caregivers in detecting, preventing, and reporting healthcare fraud and abuse. The organization encourages seniors to remain vigilant and offers assistance through certified counselors who help beneficiaries address concerns regarding compromised Medicare numbers or unauthorized plan enrollments. Seniors are advised to contact the SMP helpline or visit StateWide’s website for help with Medicare questions, plan comparisons, appeals, billing issues, and patients’ rights. Medicare fraud represents a significant financial burden, costing taxpayers over $60 billion annually nationwide. StateWide’s ongoing Fraud of the Month initiative, launched in 2022, aims to raise awareness about prevalent scams targeting seniors, enhancing fraud prevention efforts in the insurance and healthcare sectors.