Medicare fraud and abuse can happen anywhere and usually results in higher health care costs and taxes for everyone. Some examples 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 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.
If you suspect fraud, you may want to call your provider’s office to ask about it. They may be able to help you understand the charges or figure out if they made a billing error. Check your Medicare statements and your health plan monthly statements to clarify what they are charging you.
If you suspect that Medicare is being charged for an item or service, you didn’t get, or your Medicare card or number is stolen, use the contact information below to report suspected fraud or abuse.
1-800-MEDICARE (832-725-6788).
Fraud with Scammers.
While Millions of seniors are targeted by telemarketing fraud, internet fraud, and other scams each year, the consequences for elderly victims of fraud are often devastating, both financially and psychologically. Older adults hold the majority of our nation’s wealth, and many possess a sizable nest egg after having accumulated assets over a lifetime. They’re also likely to own a house, have excellent credit, and be solely responsible for their finances—all attractive scenarios to a potential thief.
Seniors with low psychological well-being, limited financial literacy, or poor health are particularly susceptible to scams. Con artists realize that some seniors have difficulty with memory and may have trouble relaying key details to authorities. What’s more, people over age 60 may live alone, making them an easy target for scammers. Those who do remember the details of the scam are often too embarrassed to admit they’d been duped.
Because they might not understand the technological capabilities that scammers possess, seniors are particularly vulnerable to certain scams. Today’s fraudsters and hackers can access vast troves of an individual’s data. In some cases, elderly victims of crime often don’t realize they’ve been scammed for weeks, and thieves use this delay to their advantage. Older individuals also may not know to whom they should report a scam.
Protect personal information over the phone. Never give out personal details over the phone. Credit card numbers, bank account information, and social security numbers should never be given out to callers, who could well be scammers posing as credible persons.
Scammers also claim they are individuals from the IRS. The fraudster will then demand money over the phone, threatening to jail the senior if the money is not wired immediately. The IRS will never request back taxes over the phone; the IRS initiates communication strictly by mail.
Prohibit remote access to a senior’s computer. Advancements in technology may leave some seniors squirming for help. Any technology issues should be directed to a reputable computer repair technician. Con artists have been known to pose as representatives from major technology giants and will call to notify seniors that a virus has attacked their computers. Following the scammer’s instructions to rid the device of any so-called viruses, saved files, passwords, and visited websites stored on the senior’s computer are automatically at the mercy of the criminal. Consequently, the senior’s bank account is wiped out within minutes.
Hire bonded caregivers. Excellent caregivers offer much-needed care to the elderly. However, dishonest caregivers are not unknown. Financially stressed or emotionally distressed caregivers have made headlines by stealing from elderly care recipients. Make sure to hire a caregiver from a licensed and bonded.
You can also contact the Office of Inspector General by telephone: 1-800-230-6539
By mail: U.S. Agency for International Development
Office of Inspector General
P.O. Box 657
Washington, DC 20044-0657
As an agent broker, I am well trained in Fraud, Waste, and Abuse yearly.
Mary Patricia Carmona-Gomez
Trusted By Seniors, Medicare Plans 832-725-6788
