Seniors – as well as their caregivers – should be aware of the risks posed by Medicare scams and how to avoid falling victim type of fraud. Each year, Medicare loses tens of billions of dollars to abuse and errors. Older adults who receive Medicare may be subject to this type of fraud perpetrated by identity thieves, scammers, and deceitful health care providers. Here are some tips to help in avoiding Medicare scams.
Safeguard Yourself From Medicare Scams
To start, there are several easy ways for you to lower your risk of being scammed in the first place.
- Don’t share your Medicare number over the phone.
- Have your Medicare card with you only when necessary. Otherwise, leave it at home. Think of it like a Social Security card or credit card and protect it in the same way.
- Be aware that Medicare representatives will never come to your residence uninvited. They also will not call you out of the blue to verify your information or to offer free or low-cost equipment, such as a back or knee brace.
- Hold onto your receipts and bills from past medical appointments so that you can compare them to your Medicare statements.
- Always look through your Medicare Summary Notices when you receive them. Keep an eye out for any errors or discrepancies regarding services, tests, or medical supplies that you did not receive, or that you were charged for more than once. You can call your health care provider and ask them to explain a charge and, if necessary, you have the right to dispute charges that are wrong.
Why Do I Need to Report Medicare Fraud?
Medicare abuse is far from being victimless. Reporting fraud to the proper authorities is crucial to help stop it.
If someone steals your Medicare card or number, you could receive bills for health services you did not receive or become a victim of identity theft.
A health care provider who may be fraudulently charging you for services can spell trouble for more than your wallet. A dishonest provider could be misdiagnosing you or even subjecting you to treatments or services you do not need or that could potentially negatively impact your health. Sometimes, billing errors are made by accident, but if you find that your provider makes these types of mistakes frequently, it may signal a potential case of fraud.
Ultimately, fraud that goes unchecked can lead to higher Medicare costs for you as the consumer.
What to Do If You Suspect Medicare Abuse
There are a number of options for reporting incidents that you suspect may constitute Medicare fraud:
- Call the Office of Inspector General hotline at 1-800-HHS-TIPS or file your complaint online.
- Call 1-800-MEDICARE to report suspected abuse by a Medicare provider.
- In addition, each state, including New York, has a dedicated Senior Medicare Patrol, or SMP. This service can monitor your Medicare account for fraud.
What Should Caregivers Do?
Caregivers can help seniors watch out for scams and fraud. An essential tool to assist in that is a power of attorney. A power of attorney designates someone you trust with taking care of your financial affairs if you become unable to do so. As an agent under a power of attorney, the caregiver can more easily monitor financial accounts and contact agencies and financial institutions on the senior’s behalf. An agent can also contact medical providers regarding billing matters. However, having a health care proxy, in addition to a power of attorney, can make that process easier. A health care proxy allows you to designate someone to make health care decisions for you if you are unable to do so yourself.
Experienced elder law attorneys are also equipped to help protect you from abuse, including having a comprehensive estate plan in place. Contact Kurre Schneps LLP today to schedule a consultation.
