Is the Medicare CAHPS Survey a Scam? What You Need to Know

If you recently received a Medicare survey in the mail, you’re probably wondering:

“Is this a scam?”

You’re not alone.

With so many phone calls, mailers, and advertisements targeting Medicare beneficiaries, it’s completely normal to question anything that asks for your attention—especially something asking about your healthcare.

Here’s the good news:

👉 The Medicare CAHPS survey is legitimate.

But let’s break down exactly what it is, why you received it, and how to know you can trust it.

What Is the Medicare CAHPS Survey?

The Medicare CAHPS survey (Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems) is a survey created by Medicare to better understand your healthcare experience.

It is used by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to ask questions like:

• How easy is it to get appointments?
• Do your doctors communicate clearly?
• Are you able to get the care you need?
• How would you rate your overall healthcare experience?

This survey is not about selling anything—it’s about listening to patients.

If you’re still trying to understand how your Medicare coverage works overall, you can start here:

👉https://merebenefits.com/pages/medicare.html

Why Did I Receive a Medicare Survey in the Mail?

One of the most common questions people ask is:

“Why did I get this and my neighbor didn’t?”

That’s because Medicare sends this survey to a random sample of beneficiaries each year.

You may have been selected if:

• You’ve been enrolled in your Medicare plan for at least 6 months
• Your plan is part of that year’s survey group

Not everyone receives it—and you may not receive one every year.

How Do You Know It’s Not a Scam?

This is the most important part.

There are scams targeting Medicare beneficiaries—but the CAHPS survey has clear differences.

A real Medicare CAHPS survey will NOT:

• Ask for your Social Security number
• Ask for banking or credit card information
• Ask you to change your Medicare plan
• Try to sell you anything

A real survey WILL:

• Focus only on your healthcare experience
• Be sent by mail (and sometimes email)
• Clearly reference Medicare

If something feels off or asks for personal financial information, that’s when you should pause.

When Are CAHPS Surveys Sent?

Timing matters.

The Medicare CAHPS survey typically follows this schedule:

• Late February: You may receive a notification letter
• March: Surveys begin arriving (mail and/or email)
• April–May: Follow-ups may be sent
• Early June: Survey closes

If you receive something during this timeframe, it’s more likely to be legitimate.

Should You Fill Out the Medicare CAHPS Survey?

You are not required to complete it.

But here’s why many people choose to:

Your answers help Medicare understand:

• Where patients are struggling
• Where access to care needs improvement
• How plans are actually performing

This feedback plays a role in Medicare’s Star Ratings system, which helps people compare plans.

So while it may feel like “just another survey,” your input actually contributes to improving the system.

What If You’re Still Not Sure?

This is where most people get stuck.

It’s not just this survey—it’s everything:

• Mail
• Phone calls
• Plan information
• Coverage changes

It can feel overwhelming trying to figure out what’s real and what matters.

If you’re unsure about:

• Something you received in the mail
• Whether your plan is the right fit
• How your coverage actually works

You don’t have to figure it out alone.

You can review helpful Medicare information here:

👉https://merebenefits.com/pages/resources.html

Or learn more about how our team supports clients:

👉https://merebenefits.com/pages/about.html

Final Thought

The Medicare CAHPS survey isn’t a scam.

It’s one of the few ways Medicare gathers real feedback from people actually using the system.

And if you were selected, your experience helps represent many others.