Scams - Medicare & Social Security
Medicare & Social Security Scams
Medicare scams are a serious problem that cost the nation billions of dollars every year. These scams come in many forms, but they all have one thing in common: they try to trick you into giving out your personal information or paying for services you don't need. One of the most common scams is the "medicare card replacement" scam, where a caller claims to be from Medicare and asks for your card information so they can send you a new, "chipped" card. Other scams might involve calls from people claiming to be from Social Security. To protect yourself from these scams, it is important to never give out personal information to unknown callers and to always check your statements for fraudulent charges. Remember, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Medicare scams cost the nation about $68 billion annually — about 3 percent of the nation's $2.26 trillion in healthcare spending. Medicare and Social Security Scams are some of the most common scams. The caller may be trying to get you to take their insurance product or they may try to gain access to your Medicare or social security number.
My brother-in-law insists on answering the phone when it rings. One day he had 65 missed calls when we were gone for part of the day. Based on previous calls he has answered most of those were medicare or social security calls.
Two months after I went on Medicare, I received a call from “medicare” that they were replacing my medicare card with a chipped medicare card. I just needed to give them my medicare card info and they would ship me the new one. I told them I didn’t have my card on me, but they graciously agreed to wait until I went to find my card. Who knows they may still be waiting. I just got a call today telling me I had been approved for a device to help me walk and it was free because Medicare would pay the full charge. I don’t need help walking since I walk my dogs daily.
What do they say:
They may try to find out information about your birthdate, address, or card numbers. They claim they are part of social security or medicare.
What to do:
NEVER give out personal information to anyone calling and especially NOT your Medicare or Social Security information. Hang up or better yet don’t answer the phone unless it is a recognized number.
Another issue is Medicare billing fraud: The National Heath Care Anti-Fraud Association estimates conservatively that healthcare fraud estimates range as high as 10 percent of annual healthcare expenditure, or $230 billion. This could include hospitals, physicians, and others billing fraudulent charges to Medicare for services not rendered or not needed. It. could be charging excessive charges. That is coming out of our hard-earned money. I get it, those bills are hard to read and understand, and bills are often not processed until months later. However, PLEASE always check your statements and question anything you do not understand, you have questions about, or that you know you did not receive the services stated on the invoice.
What to do:
Always check any insurance/medicare billing statements that you receive
If you suspect a billing issue, call the provider first, it could be a legitimate mistake and if not and you are in Indiana
Indiana FSSA fraud hotline:
Call toll-free: 800-403-0864. Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Select option 5. When prompted, enter your ZIP code.
Email: ReportFraud@fssa.IN.gov.
Mailing address: FSSA Compliance Division. Room E-414. 402 W. Washington St. Indianapolis, IN 46204.
Conclusion
Medicare and social security fraud refers to schemes where individuals or organizations fraudulently bill the government for Medicare or social security benefits or services or use beneficiaries' personal information to steal gifts. Examples include submitting false claims, billing for services not provided, providing unnecessary or substandard services, and using someone else's identification to receive benefits. It is important to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity or potential fraud to the appropriate authorities to help protect the integrity of these critical programs. To find out more about medical scams, visit Medical Scams Video. As an added note, there is a group called the Indiana Association of Area Agencies on Aging. If you live in another state, they should have a similar group. I would highly recommend checking their website. They offer a wealth of information to Indiana Senior Citizens, all for free. They can help you find services as well as education. Utility scams are another way to get your money. They can happen either in person or by phone call. Our next article discusses this common scam involving scare tactics. T