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Helpful Medicare Fraud Tips

You should be wary and suspicious if your provider informs you that:

• Medicare wants you to have this service
• Medicare want you to have this item
• The higher the volume of tests they perform, the less expensive they are
• The service is free and won’t cost you anything
• The equipment is free and won’t cost anything
• The test or tests are free and they only need your Medicare number
• They know how to get Medicare to pay for it

Avoid fraud by:

• Not allowing anyone but accredited medical professionals to recommend services/review your medical records
• Never giving out your Medicare Health Insurance Claim Number unless it is to your doctor/other Medicare provider
• Being wary of accepting Medicare services that are supposedly free
• Exercising caution when you are told you get free testing if you provide your Medicare number
• Being cautious if you are told the service/item is not usually covered, but they can bill Medicare anyhow
• Being alert and wary if a provider says they are endorsed by Medicare or by the federal government

Medicare Fraud is Alive and Well, Beware

Medicare fraud is far more common that we might expect. The definition is purposely invoicing Medicare for services that were never received or never provided. Some examples of this kind of fraud include:

• Invoicing Medicare or other insurer for services/items never received
• Invoicing Medicare for equipment/services that are not the same as what you received
• Invoicing Medicare for home medical equipment once its been returned
• Using another beneficiaries Medicare card to obtain equipment, medical care, supplies

While you may not be aware of such fraud going on, it may, overtime become clear that something is wrong. When in doubt, speak out. Defrauding Medicare means those who need it receive less benefits than they should be entitled to because someone defrauded the program.

If you do know someone intentionally defrauding Medicare, take the time to report it. Everyone benefits when you do.

More Things to Know About Your New Medicare Card

Even though your new Medicare cards have a specific new number, unique only to you, and you think no one could ever be able to use it, be wary. There is a lot of Medicare fraud in the United States.

To avoid any potential problems with your new card, only give the new Medicare Number to insurers, pharmacists, physicians and other health care providers that you know are medical personnel. People you know and trust with your card.

Forget your card at home? It happens. You, another health care provider or your doctor’s office may be able to look your new number up online.

Use your new Medicare cards right away and destroy the old one. However, if you do not have your new card yet, you may still use the old one until January 1, 2020. If you do not have your card, write, call or long into MyMedicare.gov and find out if it was sent to the right address.