In this article
- 1 How to avoid Medicare scams, and what to do if you find yourself targeted by one.
- 2 First things first; some ground rules
- 3 Common Medicare Scams
- 4 How to prevent from being scammed
- 4.1 Treat your Medicare card like a credit card
- 4.2 Avoid deceptive door-to-door salespeople
- 4.3 Beware of 'free' services or products
- 4.4 Do not respond to anyone who says they are from Medicare and ask for your personal info
- 4.5 Contact your local Senior Medicare Patrol office
- 4.6 Check out the AARP Fraud Watch
- 5 How to know if you have been scammed
- 6 What to do if you have been scammed.
- 7 Takeaways
How to avoid Medicare scams, and what to do if you find yourself targeted by one.
Medicare Open Enrollment will be here before we know it. For many Americans, this means choosing a new health plan. For fraudsters, it is prime time to target Medicare beneficiaries, looking for ways to entrap them in Medicare scams.
Take a look below at what some of the more common Medicare scams are, how you can avoid them, and what you should do if you are targeted by one.
First things first; some ground rules
This is a basic list of what Medicare will and will not do. It seems simple, but if you can remember these, most of scams on this list will be much easier to spot and avoid.
Medicare will never visit you at your home.
Ever. If someone is knocking on your door claiming to be from Medicare, or if you come home to a note on your door asking you call Medicare back, it is a scam. This is not something that Medicare does.
Medicare will never try to sell you anything.
Medicare does not sell things. If someone says they are from Medicare and are asking you to buy something, it is a scam.
Medicare will never ask you for payments for anything over the phone
Payments to Medicare will never be asked for over the phone or online. If someone is asking you to pay something through the phone or through an online chat, it is a scam.
Medicare will never offer you anything to join a plan, or endorse a plan
Medicare representatives are not allows to endorse any particular plan, nor are the allowed to offer cash or gifts if you join a certain plan. If anyone claiming to be from Medicare tries to steer you towards a certain plan, they are not from Medicare and are trying to scam you.
Sometimes, Medicare CAN call you.
But only if you asked them to by leaving a message or if a representative said that someone would call you back.
They will also sometimes call if you filed a report of suspected fraud, in which case someone representing Medicare will follow up with you as part of the investigation.
Common Medicare Scams
This is by no means an all encompassing list, but these are the most commonly seen scams.
The Medicare imposter scam
This scam is when you get a call or text from someone who claims to be from the Medicare ‘enrollment center’ or to be a Medicare ‘advisor.’ These con artist might tell you that they are conducting a survey and want to ensure that you get the best coverage possible or that they will send you a new Medicare card.
Sometimes these people even call you from a number that shows 1-800-Medicare. If you remember from above though, Medicare will never ever call you unless you left them a message and asked to be phoned back.
If someone contacts you from this number, do not answer it and block the number. While you may still hear from the scammer, it blocing the number will at least slow them down a little.
**NOTE** If you do need to replace your Medicare card, you can request that from Medicare.gov.
The Medicare flex card scam
Some Part C Medicare Advantage plans offer prepaid cards to enrollees that cover the cost of things like groceries, OTC medicines, and utilities.
Con artist have turned to calling people on Original Medicare to offer flex cards, saying that they can be used same as those on Medicare Advantage plans.
In reality, there are no flex cards for people that are on Original Medicare.
The free equipment scam
This is a very common scam. The fraudster will call or text, knock on your door, show up at a care facility, or put out ads saying that they can get Medicare to give you a free piece of durable medical equipment, such as a wheelchair, back brace, or glucose monitor.
The free equipment does not usually arrive, and if it does, odds are it is of very low quality.
Sometimes the con artist is either working with, or is, a doctor.
While you will not be personally on the hook for the equipment, this scam could prevent you from getting equipment when you need it, because Medicare thinks that you already ordered one.
The free lab test scam
In this scam, someone will either approach you or show up at a health fair or senior center saying that they can arrange for you to get a free test or assessment and that Medicare will cover it. Sometimes they will even say that their doctor has already authorized it.
The con artist will bill Medicare on behalf of the ‘lab’ to collect payment for this service, irregardless of if your plan covers the test.
The Medicare Advantage sales call scam
Companies, agents, and brokers who sell plans are not allowed to cold call people saying that they want to help you find the best Medicare Advantage plan.
This scam can involve third-party organizations that call beneficiaries multiple times a day, and marketing that does not mention important details about the plan.
Sometimes you may receive a call saying that you have been ‘pre-aproved’ for a plan with better coverage that your current one.
No matter the case, hang up and file a report; this is scam.
How to prevent from being scammed
If you are able to remember the ‘rules’ from above, it is not terribly difficult to seperate the scammers from the official Medicare representatives. Still, here are some tips and tricks that may add some protection
Treat your Medicare card like a credit card
Your Medicare number should be treated just like your Social Security number or your Credit Card number. Do not hand this out to people who claim to be from Medicare.
Avoid deceptive door-to-door salespeople
Not all door-to-door salespeople are out to get you. But, this is a common tactic of con artist. Remember, Medicare does not send people to your house. Anyone claiming to be from Medicare is trying to scam you.
If someone shows up trying to sell. a specific plan, they are also acting illegally.
Report both of these activities immediately.
Beware of 'free' services or products
This is not something that Medicare will offer you. Say no and walk away or hang up. Report this scam as soon as possible.
Do not respond to anyone who says they are from Medicare and ask for your personal info
Remember, Medicare will not contact you unless you initiated a conversation. They will not ask for your Medicare number. They wont call to sell you insurance or health care products. So if someone claims to be from Medicare, and you did not ask for a call, hand up and report the attempted scam.
Contact your local Senior Medicare Patrol office
This is a group of strained volunteers that help people understand what Medicare fraud looks like and how to avoid it. They can be found here.
Check out the AARP Fraud Watch
This is a toll-free service that offers tips and tools to stay safe from fraud. They can be found here.
How to know if you have been scammed
The easiest way to see if you have been a victim is to check your Medicare statements. Every three months you receive by mail a Medicare Summary Notice that shows all of the services that your Part A and Part B covered.
If you enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan or in a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, you will received statements after you get medical services.
Both of these documents should be looked at thoroughly and scrupulously.
What to do if you have been scammed.
You can report it by calling 1-800-Medicare (800-633-4227) or online at Medicare.gov, or by calling 1-800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
If you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan, or a Medicare Drug plan, you can call the Medicare Drug Integrity Contractor at 1-877-772-3379.
Identity theft can be reported to the Federal Trade Commission here.
Finally, the Senior Medicare Fraud website has local resources that may be help.
Takeaways
There is a forever evolving list of ways that nefarious people are trying to take advantage of others, and Medicare beneficiaries are no exception.
Following these few steps and tips will help keep you safe from scams and fraud, but ultimately, common sense is our best bet in these situations; if something doesn’t feel right, walk away.
When you do want help exploring your option, feel free to give us a call.
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