Hope it was not a scam.

We got calls like that too when husband was first off work, ill, so wish for the best.

now we insist that the caller email us if they need to know something. We call back if we need to.

isnt your Medicare number your SS number.

hope for the best.

It may be a scam, but it also might be okay. Your Medicare number is probably your Social Security number, or your husband's if you are claiming on his benefit. Call BCBS directly and ask them if someone called you and also if they enrolled your husband. They will have that in their records. If not, unfortunately, it was probably a scam.

Yes your Medicare card number is your SS number. I checked and I had given him my Medigap card number not my Medicare number. I had grabbed the wrong card. I don't know what we were thinking that we fell for it.

I have no comment to add concerning your experience, I hope all turns out well, but..

I wanted to say that this summer I turned 65 and started with Medicare, in addition to the employer's coverage that I have, and my Medicare card number IS my social security number followed by one letter. Same for my wife. She's two months younger than I and also just started with partial Medicare coverage - it's her social security number followed by the same one letter.

I hate that the Medicare ID number is the social security number. I hope there is no problem, caflowerluver.

Oh I hope not!! But it might behoove you to join up with an ID protection company similar to Lifelock. You might contact your bank and see if they have a group they recommend.

In the mean time:

Here's what you should do:

(from pacer.org)

1. Contact one of the credit reporting agencies' fraud alert departments
and place a fraud alert on your credit report. This prevents identity
thieves from opening accounts in your name. Many credit card companies
offer no-cost fraud protection where you would not be held financially
responsible for charges made to your account by thieves who steal your
personal information. In order to receive the most protection possible,
though, it is important you call one of the credit reporting agencies
as soon as you possibly can, even if you aren’t 100 percent sure your
identity has been stolen, but may only think it has.
Tell the agency you think your identity has been stolen.
The agency will ask you to verify your identity with your Social
Security number, name, address, and possibly other personal information

Equifax Fraud Department
Call 1-800-525-6285
Visit www.equifax.com

Experian Fraud Department
Call 1-888-397-3742
Visit www.experian.com

TransUnion Fraud Department
Call 1-800-680-7289
Visit http://www.transunion.com

2. Contact your lenders, banks, and insurance companies
and let them know the situation. Ask to close accounts. Open new ones
with new personal identification numbers (PINs) and passwords.

3. Victims of identity theft are entitled to a free credit report. Wait about a month before you request it. Some activity may take a while to show up on your report. When you get it look for:

• Personal information that has changed: your name, date of birth, Social Security number, address, and employer
• Inquiries from companies you didn’t contact
• Accounts you didn’t open
• Debts on your accounts you can’t explain

4. File a police report—it is proof of the crime. If the credit reporting agencies need to investigate fraudulent activity on your report, they will need this police report.

5. Periodically check your credit reports over the next year to make sure no new fraudulent activity has occurred.

The above info is from: What to do if you think your ID has been stolen

Can you look at your caller ID history and try calling the number back?

I had a similar call from someone asking if I had received my insurance card. I didn't answer the phone and he left a message. I tried to call him back, but he was out of the office. I haven't tried to call him again, although he has called me. I thought it was a strange call because I received the card months ago. I have used it and no problems....so I didn't feel compelled to call him back. I didn't think about it being a scam.......but you never know. I almost never answer my phone because most of the unknown calls I get are scam calls. I haven't had an IRS call lately....I was told I had to pay them $5000 because they already had a warrant out for my arrest. :-) The latest one I had, that I answered, was to help me with my credit card debt. I don't have any credit card debt, and when I told him that and not to call me again, he hung up on me. ;)

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. You have to be so careful today.

pudgeder - DH did all that you suggested earlier. He did a search and got that information.

I had a call from Medicare while at my Mom's house. The call was for her regarding her recent hospitilazation. I was hesitant, and the lady on the phone said if I were uncomfortable I could call back. That might be a way to keep yourself safe, look the official number up and call them back

I'd guess that the caller was indeed from Blue Cross Blue Shield because -- as you say -- HE gave YOU all your information. YOU gave him only your full BCBS *membership* number. Who, other than BSBS, would have all of that information -- unless you have given your membership number to a health provider (doctor, lab, hospital)? Have you?

My guess is that BCBS is: a) Verifying that their new member 'checks out' as you presented yourself to them; and b) Prospecting for new members (your DH).

Seems to me that BCBS would already have that info, and they should NEVER ask for your SSN.

caflowerluver, I'm glad you all are taking precautions!

I misread. Didn't realize YOU gave HIM your full Social Security number (same as your Medicare number).

Now I'm back to wondering who, other than BSCS, knows you are a BCBS member and knows what plan you have with them. Have you provided anyone with that information? You say it only went into effect December 1.

I didn't give him MY SS number, gave him my Medigap number by mistake, he already had the last 4 digits of my SS number. Where he got that information, I don't know. DH did give his when the guy said he could pre-enroll him for Medicare.

I did visit the doctor and they have copies of my cards. Maybe got the information through them? Or a Medicare salesman? I have been getting lots of calls from outfits who wanted me to sign up with them. DH thinks he was an independent Medicare insurance agent trying to get us to switch to another company. He quoted prices from another company and other plans. When DH talked to BC insurance they asked for a confirmation number he should have given DH if he signed him up. We didn't get a confirmation number nor an email from him listing everything he talked to DH about. He said he would send an email. Just a flake or theif?

We have done all the things we can do, notified all the people we are suppose to and gave them all the information we had on the guy - phone numbers, name, etc. Now just have to wait and see. What a way to spend my 65th birthday! I really don't feel like celebrating today.

Have you spoken to your doctor's office about this call? Maybe they have 'a leak'.

Did you sign up for your Medicare supplement policy through an insurance exchange? (My DH's former employer funds an HRA account through an exchange. We have to go through them to have money from the HRA pay our premiums. As a result, the exchange has all our private information.)

I'm more concerned now that you tell us the caller told your DH he could sign him up for Medicare!

I'm sorry this has put a damper on your BIRTHDAY!

I'm willing to bet it really was from the medicare company you signed
up with. They call to welcome you. They call to see if you have any
questions they can help you with. Later on they call to set up appointments for a
nurse to come to your home to check your well being. I've been with
several different companies over the last few years and they all seem to
do that.
And this is the end of enrollment, at which time they all seem to be able to sign you up. (And get paid for it) Keeping the bureaucracy alive and well.

I agree that the call is probably from your Medigap company. When I signed up online, I still had to go thru the entire application over the phone.

Where does the # he gave you ring to? That should give you a clue as to whether it's with your legit company or not. If it doesn't ring there, then you've likely been scammed.

It was an 800 number but couldn't find out anything on it when we did a search on the web. He also gave DH his cell phone number if we had any questions. We gave Blue Cross all this information in an email. DH was on hold for over 45 minutes when he called customer service when he finally gave up. We are still waiting for a call back. If this is how they do business, I am sorry I signed up with them. DH is thinking of calling the guy back on his cell phone and ask him some questions. I want to just let sleeping dogs lie until we hear back from BC.

Let that cell phone dog sleep! Try BCBS again, using the number on your membership card.

chisue - That is the number we called yesterday, BC card number on back. I couldn't believe DH was on hold for 45 minutes. That is really bad customer service. I agree about the cell phone.

caflower? they're slammed almost 24-7...and 45 minutes is nothing..omg we're still getting stuff from bcbs for fil, an he died in may!!! and don't get me started on Medicaid....I kid you not, we have a stack of mail about 2 ft tall trying to get his bills covered...(latest count was 44 grand!!!)

Susanjf - good luck with clearing up that mess. My Autistic son is on Medicaid (called Medical in CA) because he has several physical as well as mental disabilities. It is lots of fun dealing with them to get the care he needs and been doing it for ten years.