By Jennifer Mauldin, licensed Medicare agent (SC License #6422562), Mauldin Insurance Group

If you're on Medicare or about to be, there's a good chance your phone lit up with a text from 42474. It usually goes something like this: a "senior card" worth $2,600 or more is waiting for you, good for groceries, gas, or utilities. Just reply CARD to claim it.

These texts are showing up on phones all over the country, and they're confusing a lot of people. Here's the straight answer.

That text is not from Medicare.

What is 42474?

42474 is a short code, the kind of five-digit number businesses use to send mass text messages. It isn't a regular phone number, so you can't call it back. The texts coming from it are branded with a company name, not a government agency, and they're offering a "benefits card" that isn't part of Original Medicare.

Medicare doesn't text you out of the blue to offer money, gift cards, or spending cards, and it won't ask you to reply with a keyword to get benefits.

Why these texts work on people

They work because there's a little truth buried in them. Some Medicare Advantage plans really do include extras like an allowance for over-the-counter items, and some offer help with groceries or utilities for members who qualify. So when a text says you have a card waiting, it sounds believable.

The difference is how you get those benefits. Real ones come from a specific plan you're enrolled in, they depend on your ZIP code and sometimes your health, and they're never "activated" by replying to a text.

Most of these texts are trying to get you to call or reply so someone can pitch you a plan change, or get your Medicare number and personal information. Either way, you didn't ask for it, and you don't owe them a response.

What to do if you got a text from 42474

• Don't reply. Not even STOP. Replying confirms your number is active.
• Don't click any links in the message.
• Never give out your Medicare number, Social Security number, or bank information over text or to anyone who contacted you first.
• Report it. Forward the text to 7726 (that spells SPAM), which goes to your cell carrier. You can also report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
• If you already shared your Medicare number, call 1-800-MEDICARE and let them know. You can also read Medicare's own guidance on reporting Medicare fraud.

How to find out what you actually qualify for

If the text got you wondering whether there's real money or a flex card out there for you, that's a fair question. Some people do qualify for extra benefits through a Medicare Advantage plan, and some people are leaving help on the table.

The right way to find out is to have someone look at the plans actually available in your county, check them against your doctors and prescriptions, and see what extras come with them. That's what we do every day.

As an independent agency in Lexington, we compare plans from multiple carriers, and there's no cost to you for our help. If something looks too good to be true, call us before you call anyone else.

Call or text Jennifer Mauldin at 843-509-2462 for a free review of the real Medicare benefits available where you live.

The bottom line

A text from 42474 promising a senior card isn't Medicare, and it isn't free money waiting to be claimed. Delete it, report it, and if you want to know what you really qualify for, talk to a licensed local agent who will look at your actual options.