Beware of Medicare Fraud

Until now, you had heard about Medicare Fraud plenty of times, but really didn't understand what all the fuss was about.

There is nothing safe from scammers nowadays including Medicare. The Bbb (BBB) is warning consumers to be skeptical of callers claiming to be with Medicare and requesting private information like social security and banking account numbers. Some seniors have reported receiving calls offering "free" items such as for example diabetic supplies or claiming "all seniors are becoming a brand new Medicare card", and for verification purposes, they request personal financial information.

"Consumers should be suspicious of unsolicited calls from anybody claiming to be from Medicare, " said Kim States, BBB President. Medicare will broadly speaking maybe not make unsolicited calls to update information, issue a brand new card or offer free medical equipment. We recommend seniors say goodbye and call a dependable Medicare number when they have questions regarding their benefits. "

BBB warns that callers might have information from public databases which make the phone call seem legitimate. The BBB offers the following advice for safeguarding private information and avoiding Medicare scams:

Medicare, Medicaid and the Social Security Administration wont call to update information or issue a brand new card. In the event that you get a call, say goodbye and report it to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Medicare related scams frequently involve some type of identity theft. Don't hand out private information to not known callers.
In the event that you are not sure a call is legitimate, say goodbye and verify by calling the agency or checking with the BBB.
Be suspicious of any door-to-door or telephone solicitations claiming to be associated with Medicare.

Be skeptical of anybody proclaiming to offer you something for "free" as a swap for the Medicare number. Remember, Medicare wont purchase medical equipment with no physician's signature certifying that it's necessary.

Review medical bills, Medicare Summary notices and insurance Explanation of Benefits for medical equipment or service charges that you didn't incur. If you discover dubious charges, contact your wellbeing provider instantly.

Only give your insurance/Medicare information to those people who have provided you with medical services.

Handy Hint: This is just a short break to blow your mind away from the topic area regarding medicare fraud, all the ideas and tips through this article aim to educate and entertain and if you'd like to learn more about the subject matter, do a search about "Medicare Fraud" on any search engine and you'll find loads of results which are helpful for you.

Keep accurate records of medical appointments, procedures and medical equipment.
Ask your medical provider what they'll charge and just how much you will need to pay out-of-pocket.

Never sign blank Medicare insurance forms.
Make sure your provider is approved by Medicare by contacting them directly at 1-800-633-4227.

To report suspected Medicare fraud, contact the U. S. Department of Health & Human Services Office of Inspector General at oig. hhs. gov or call 1-800-447-8477.

To greatly help retirees comprehend Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicare supplements, and prescription drug coverage, see Weiss' Medicare Power Planner. The interactive tool guides consumers through a number of questions that will assist determine the perfect arrange for the coverage they require and supply use of price comparisons for over 160 insurance carriers at the cheapest possible price.

This article regarding Medicare Fraud is meant to both inform and entertain those who read it. Hopefully, we have (will) accomplished both goals for you.


Comments are closed.