MyChart

Heads up! A warning has been issued to all My Chart users. MyChart lets you see your medications, test results, upcoming appointments, medical bills, price estimates, and more all in one place, even if you’ve been seen at multiple healthcare organizations.

HealthJournalism.org wrote about this new scam. Millions of Americans now use the MyChart patient portal to track their test results, schedule appointments and message their care teams. But recently, hackers have used the MyChart name to advertise a nonexistent Medicare kit to seniors by text or email, enticing them to divulge personal and financial information.

Some 41 health systems nationwide have warned patients about the scam, which uses subject lines such as “Your MyChart Medicare Kit Awaits!” and refers to free senior wellness packages, Becker’s Health IT reported. These messages, which do not originate from either the health systems or MyChart itself, direct recipients to a fake website designed to collect users’ login and personal information. As such, organizations are urging patients to delete these emails without clicking any links. 

Sample Text to Watch For

Gizmodo published a sample email as well as a few patient reports of what happened. It filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with the Federal Trade Commission, which has received 166 complaints related to MyChart, although not all were related to the phishing scams. 

Here’s the text: “Dear Member. Our records show that your account is eligible to receive the official MyChart Medicare Home Health Kit at no added cost to you. This comprehensive package is distributed as part of your annual wellness benefits to support daily home health monitoring. Because allocated inventory for your zip code [sic] is limited, unclaimed kits will be reassigned to the next member on the waiting list.” It also notes that unclaimed packages will expire in 48 hours. 

Trevor Berceau, director of research and development at Epic, the large health records company that developed MyChart, posted about the scams July 27, in which he attributed the rise in scam attempts to people trying to take advantage of MyChart’s popularity. The good news, Berceau said, is that these efforts do not present a security concern to the official MyChart applications, so people can continue to use them as normal. 

Epic also maintains a website on how patients can protect themselves from scams and fraud. It offers advice such as guarding passwords and verification codes, and being skeptical of free offers. Regarding this specific scam, the company posted a reminder that MyChart does not hold giveaways, warns against clicking any links in the emails and says if a patient sees a countdown clock noting an offer will expire, it’s a red flag for a fake. Additionally, it reminds people not to pay any money or submit personal information.  

Tips

• If you receive an unexpected MyChart message, don’t use the link contained in the email or text. Open the MyChart app you normally use or go directly to your healthcare provider’s known website
• If the message concerns something legitimate — such as an appointment, bill, or test result — you should normally be able to find corresponding information inside your actual account
• Consumers who already entered a MyChart password on a suspicious website should change the password immediately and review their account for unexpected activity. If credit or debit card information was provided, contact the card issuer or bank promptly
• And remember one simple rule: MyChart is a patient portal, not a Medicare benefits program. It doesn’t give away Medicare kits
• If you entered credit card information, contact the bank to replace the card
• If you downloaded or ran a program from a phishing site, or entered sensitive information, you should disconnect your computer from the internet and have it inspected by a tech expert before accessing any personal, financial or work accounts
• Hang up or ignore messages from scammers purporting to be from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Two sources of assistance to contact are: Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE. And the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline, at 1-877-908-3990.

Protect Your Medical Information

Hackers are everywhere. Your health account information and medical records are best kept private.

Should scammers access your sensitive information, it poses serious risks. Let’s explore why: Stolen login information could expose patients’ private health information.

In many cases, the danger is not just losing a password; it is giving scammers access into your personal health, insurance, and account details that can be misused in these ways:

• Access private medical information
• Collect personal identifying details
• Take over or reuse account access
• Commit financial or insurance fraud
• Create more convincing scams later

To protect your login and medical information, consider these steps:

• Always go straight to the source and check there
• Change your sign in credentials if you ever think you have clicked on a potential “scam”
• Keep a close eye on all your medical and financial accounts
• Check your credit report often, even if you have frozen your accounts
• Take warnings seriously and report any suspicious message to the organization you thought you were being contacted by

Keep Alert

The holidays are around the corner. Keep alert and be vigilant about protecting your safety.

Last week writing about Alzheimer’s and the impact it has on so many, think of how easy it would be for someone to be tricked. It can happen to any of us. It’s too easy to click, click, click. Pause and consider the source before you click. **I vet any link I share with you every week. I’m cautious too!

There is so much to consider when you begin planning for your loved ones and for yourself. I know the details can be overwhelming.

If you ever want to discuss your situation and/or have questions, please feel free to Email me. If you’d like to learn more about my work, check out my website @ The Living Planner. 

I’ve written my book for people who would like to consider planning for now and after a loss. The 2026 edition of Living Planner What to Prepare Now While You Are Living © can be purchased HERE.

Let me know if there are topics of interest to you for my weekly blog. It’s always good to hear from you.

Quote of the week: “A happy life consists in the tranquility of mind.” Marcus Tullius Cicero

Find time to quiet your mind. Lynn

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