The First Result for “Medicare” Might Be an Ad a Scammer Paid For (2026)

Scroll past the ads and check for .gov — the FTC warned on September 28, 2026 that scammers and dishonest businesses pay to appear at the top of search results, behind lookalikes of Medicare.gov and HealthCare.gov with near-identical addresses and official-looking logos. A plan you “enroll in” through their link or phone number may not be insurance at all — or a pipe straight into medical identity theft. Medicare open enrollment runs October 15 to December 7: type Medicare.gov yourself or call 800-633-4227, and treat any “new Medicare card with a chip” call as a hang-up — no such program exists.

Educational verdict from documented scam patterns — not a live report. For a 0–100 risk score on the exact link in your hand, run the checker.

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From the research desk — this pattern is one of those documented in This Week's Scam Wave, in Numbers — October 6, 2026 →

Why you’re seeing this now

Medicare open enrollment runs October 15 to December 7, and the FTC fired the starting gun early: its September 28 alert warns that bad actors buy the top search slots and build lookalikes of Medicare.gov and HealthCare.gov — near-identical addresses, official-looking logos — so the plan you “enroll in” through their link or phone number may not be insurance at all, or may be a pipe straight into medical identity theft. The wave is measurable. West Virginia's attorney general logged Medicare pitches — grocery and food-voucher cards, “additional benefits,” questions about your Parts A and B — as the number-one scam complaint of September. The AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline is taking reports of callers claiming Medicare is issuing new plastic cards “with a chip,” harvesting Medicare numbers (per the Detroit Free Press, October 6). BBB Scam Tracker has the text version: “your health benefits are about to expire,” then a renewal that demands payment. Medicare already has your number, and it doesn't call to sell you anything. Type Medicare.gov yourself, or call 800-633-4227. Marketplace: HealthCare.gov, 800-318-2596. Free human help: your State Health Insurance Assistance Program.

Five red flags — any one is enough

The result sits above Medicare.gov wearing a small “Ad” or “Sponsored” label — scammers buy that slot.

The address is almost right — keywords, seals, and logos copied; only an address ending in .gov is real.

A “plan” that wants your Medicare ID, Social Security number, or payment before you see any details.

A caller says Medicare is issuing new plastic or chip cards and needs to “verify” your number. No such program exists.

Grocery cards, free benefits, or “lose your coverage” urgency — the pressure is the product.

Your next three moves

Verify through a channel you open yourself — type Medicare.gov into your browser or call 800-633-4227 (Marketplace plans: HealthCare.gov, 800-318-2596). Free human help comparing plans: your State Health Insurance Assistance Program or local Senior Medicare Patrol — legitimate navigators never charge and never cold-call.

Refuse the ask: no Medicare ID, Social Security number, or payment to any “plan” that found you through an ad, call, or text — and no “verifying” your number for a new plastic or chip card. No such card program exists; Medicare already has your number and doesn't call to sell you anything.

Report the ad, site, or call at reportfraud.ftc.gov — and paste the link or number from the search ad or message into the $2 instant check for a 0–100 scam risk score before you enroll through anything it handed you.

Does Medicare call to offer better plans or new cards?

No. Medicare doesn't make unsolicited sales calls, and there is no plastic or chip-card replacement program. Hang up and call 800-633-4227 yourself.

Is the first search result for Medicare.gov safe to click?

Not automatically. The FTC warns scammers and dishonest businesses pay for the top slot. Scroll past anything labeled Ad or Sponsored and confirm the address ends in .gov.

Who can help me compare plans for free?

Your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) or local Senior Medicare Patrol; for ACA plans, HealthCare.gov's “Find Local Help.” Legitimate navigators never charge and never cold-call.

Sixty seconds of checking beats a four-figure mistake.

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