3 Signs Of A Medicare Fraud Or Scam Every Senior And Caregiver Needs To Know

Medicare is the federal health insurance that covers Americans age 65 and older, as well as certain younger people with disabilities and those with advanced kidney disease.It provides important health care services that seniors care about most, and scammers take advantage of this loophole.

Ari Parker, an attorney and Chapter’s chief Medicare counsel, says scammers target seniors because they are less tech-savvy and have a lifetime of savings and credit history.Chapter provides resources for people seeking Medicare information.

The FBI reports that in 2020, the average American over the age of 65 will lose $9,175 to fraud.An important thing for Medicare beneficiaries and caregivers to remember is that just because someone says they work for Medicare doesn’t mean they actually do.

Fraudsters” take advantage of Medicare’s strong brand name.Anyone who enrolls in Medicare respects it.So when you hear Medicare say “there’s a problem with your account” and “you need a new card”, you listen and pay a little more attention.

The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) Fraud Helpline receives approximately 500 calls per day from people who have suffered or reported fraud, including Medicare fraud.

Being a victim of a scam has nothing to do with your level of intelligence, it has everything to do with …… actually, your emotional triggers.For a lot of people, health insurance is very important because it’s how they stay healthy and it’s how they get access to doctors and medications in this country.When someone threatens their ability to stay healthy, they’re not thinking cognitively, they’re thinking emotionally, they’re thinking with fear.

To get rid of the anxiety that scammers can cause, it’s important to remember the facts about how Medicare contacts members and beneficiaries.The following are important warning signs that the Medicare offers you hear from so-called “Medicare representatives” are actually scams.

1.Be alert if Medicare contacts you unsolicited.Real Medicare does not need to call you to verify your information.

If you suddenly get a phone call, email, or house call from someone claiming they work with Medicare, stay skeptical.

Medicare will not contact you to verify your information.As stated on the FCC website, “Medicare will never call you unsolicited and ask you for personal or private information.”

The only two reasons a Medicare person would call you are if you first called the official 1-800-MEDICARE hotline and asked for someone to call you back, or if you are already a member of a Medicare health or drug plan.In that case, “the agent who helped you enroll in the Medicare program can call you,” the Medicare.gov website says.

Be wary of emails claiming to be from Medicare.It is not common for Medicare to send emails to beneficiaries because it usually communicates the information through an individual’s Medicare.gov account, where claims and coverage can be viewed.

2.Beware of free medical supplies and other free items that try to lure you in exchange for your Medicare number.You should treat this number as you would your own Social Security number.

If someone offers you free tests or medical supplies, but the contact person “just needs to get your Medicare card number first,” that’s another red flag.You should be wary of anyone you don’t know who asks you to share your unique 11-digit Medicare number, which is how Medicare claims are submitted.

Medicare will not ask for your Medicare number, trust me, Medicare has your number.

Typically, Medicare scammers will tell seniors “your doctor told us you have knee pain” and offer free medical supplies, and people often fall for it.

In this common fraudulent scheme, scammers prescribe equipment such as knee braces and bill Medicare once they have obtained your unique Medicare number.But buying unnecessary medical supplies can drain your Medicare benefits, preventing you from getting the supplies and services you really need later.And buying medical supplies that aren’t right for you can cause you physical harm over time.

If someone uses your Medicare number to commit medical identity theft, such as receiving medical treatment or surgery, then these actions will be performed through your Medicare number.Assuming you have an emergency, they pull up your number and they say “You’ve had this treatment.You have already paid for it.”

Another common tactic of scammers is for the caller to tell someone that they are “eligible for a refund due to a change in insurance coverage.”The caller will then ask for the person’s health insurance number and banking information.

3.Be wary of people who are not your doctor but offer you health advice in exchange for your personal information.

The Medicare website warns people not to allow “anyone other than your doctor or other health insurance provider to view your medical records or recommended services.”

That’s because a common type of Medicare fraud is that the caller may claim they are a genetic testing company working with your doctor, who is concerned that you have a history of common medical conditions, such as cancer in your family.

The caller will then usually say they’ll give you genetic testing to help you and your doctor develop a treatment plan – they just need to verify your Medicare number or Social Security number first.They won’t say “Can I do it?”They’re going to say “Can I confirm it?”You already think they have a genetic test because the doctor gave them a genetic test.

This scam preys on people’s fears about their health and lures them into listening to these lies.

When you listen to a voicemail, you are not with the person.You can then decide whether to call them back or listen to the warning and delete it.

You can also hang up and call the official Medicare number, 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), to report someone who is calling to ask for your personal information or to threaten your Medicare coverage.