Medicare Genetic Testing Scam Warning Signs to Watch

What a Medicare Genetic Testing Scam Looks Like

The clearest warning sign of a Medicare genetic testing scam is being contacted first, by phone, mail, text, or a table at a health fair, with an offer for a "free" DNA or cheek swab test. Genetic testing fraud is a type of health care fraud in which someone bills Medicare for genetic tests that were never medically necessary and often never properly ordered by your own doctor. Original Medicare pays for genetic testing only when your treating physician determines it is medically necessary for a specific condition and orders it directly, according to Medicare.gov. Any pitch that skips your doctor and goes straight to your Medicare number is one of the Medicare scams worth recognizing before you ever pick up the phone.

How the Scam Works

Most genetic testing scams follow a similar pattern. A telemarketer, a mailer, or a representative at a senior center or health fair offers a free cheek swab, saying it can screen for cancer risk, heart disease, or Alzheimer's disease. To "process" the free kit, they ask for your Medicare number, sometimes along with your date of birth or Social Security number. Once they have it, the operation bills Medicare directly for the lab test, often thousands of dollars per kit, without your treating doctor ever being involved in ordering it. In some versions, a telemedicine provider you've never spoken with signs the order after a brief, scripted phone call.

The same approach shows up around other free offers, including back or knee braces, and sometimes alongside pitches for senior dental vision hearing plans or supplemental coverage you never requested. The common thread is the same every time: contact comes to you first, and the first thing they want is your Medicare number.

Who Scammers Target

Genetic testing scams often target beneficiaries who have both Medicare and Medicaid, as well as those enrolled in a Medicare Savings Program because of limited income, since these beneficiaries typically have no out-of-pocket cost that would flag an unusual charge right away. If your income is near the thresholds for the 2026 Medicare Savings Program income limits, it's a good habit to review your Medicare Summary Notice a little more closely each quarter. People who still have Medicare and employer coverage through a spouse's plan aren't exempt either, since scammers generally don't know, or don't care, what other coverage you have.

What to Do If You Think You've Been Targeted

Check your Medicare Summary Notice, the quarterly statement showing claims billed to Medicare on your behalf, or log in to your account at MyMedicare.gov for any genetic testing or lab charges you don't recognize. If you see one, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) and ask that the charge be reviewed, then report the contact to the HHS Office of Inspector General. Giving out your Medicare number doesn't automatically mean you'll owe money, since Medicare generally covers the billed amount, but a fraudulent claim on your record can make it harder to get a legitimate test covered later if your file already shows an unrelated screening. If you haven't given anyone your number, you don't need to do anything beyond declining the offer and, if it arrived by mail, keeping the envelope in case you want to report it.