I want to talk about something that’s easy to brush off until it happens to you: Medicare scams. They’re getting more convincing every year. Callers pretending to be Medicare, Social Security, or your insurance company. Threats that your benefits will be canceled. Here’s the one thing to remember: Medicare will never call you out of the blue asking for your personal information. When in doubt, hang up – then call 1-800-MEDICARE to report it.
Know the warning signs and protect your Medicare benefits from fraud.
FROM MEDICARE.GOV
Reporting Medicare fraud & abuse
Medicare fraud and abuse can happen anywhere. It’s important that you protect your Medicare card, number, and other personal information, and check your Medicare claims regularly.
Some examples of Medicare fraud include:
- A provider that bills Medicare for services or supplies they never gave you, like charging you for a visit you never had, or a back brace you never got.
- A provider that charges Medicare twice for a service or item that you only got once.
- A person who steals your Medicare Number or card and uses it to submit fraudulent claims in your name.
- A company that offers you a Medicare drug plan that Medicare hasn’t approved.
- A person comes to your house or calls you, offering to sign you up for hospice care if you give them your Medicare Number.
To help spot and prevent Medicare fraud and abuse:
- Compare the dates and services on your calendar with the Medicare statements you get to make sure you got each service listed and that all the details are correct.
- Protect your personal information and become familiar with how Medicare uses it.
- Know what a Medicare health or drug plan can and can’t do before you join. If you join a Medicare health or drug plan, the plan will let you know how it will use your personal information.
- Learn more about Medicare and recent scams.
If you suspect fraud call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or Report Medicare Fraud online.
If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan or Medicare drug plan you can also call the Investigations Medicare Drug Integrity Contractor (I-MEDIC) at 1-877-7SAFERX (1-877-772-3379).
When you call, have this information ready:
- Your name and Medicare Number.
- The name of the provider that you’re reporting, along with any identifying information you may have.
- The service or item you’re questioning and when you supposedly got it.
- The amount that Medicare approved and paid.
- The date on your Medicare Summary Notice, health or drug plan’s Explanation of Benefits, or claim.
Protect yourself from medical identity theft
Medical identity theft is a serious crime that happens when someone uses your personal information without your consent to commit Medicare fraud or other crimes. Use the following tips to protect yourself from becoming a victim.
Don’t:
- Give your Medicare card, Medicare Number, Social Security card, or Social Security Number to anyone except your doctor or people you know should have it (like insurers acting on your behalf or people who work with Medicare, like your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) [State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) A state program that gets money from the federal government to give free local health insurance counseling to people with Medicare.] Get the contact information for your local SHIP.
- Accept offers of money or gifts for free medical care.
- Allow anyone, except your doctor or other Medicare providers, to review your medical records or recommend services.
- Join a Medicare health or drug plan over the phone, unless you called and asked for help.
