Preventing Medicare Fraud and Abuse
With the Affordable Care Act in full force, there has been dramatic increase in fraud and abuse related to Medicare. Examples include:
- A health insurance company using phony information to lure you into joining a Medicare Advantage plan.
- Your Medicare card being used by someone else to get medical equipment, supplies or care.
- A supplier billing Medicare for equipment you never ordered.
- A company billing Medicare for services you never received.
Here are just few simple ways to protect yourself from getting ripped off:
- Save your receipts for visits to the doctor or any service you received.
- Mark the dates on a calendar.
- Ensure accuracy of your Medicare claims by reviewing them online at https://www.mymedicare.gov/.
Things to Remember
- Unless asked, Medicare plans cannot call you for enrollment.
- MA plans never ask for financial information (bank account or credit card numbers) over the phone.
- Salespeople can never come to your home to sell Medicare Advantage or Part D (Medicare prescription drug) policies.
Reporting Fraud
- To report a plan violating the above rules, call 1-800-MEDICARE.
- Call the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-HHS-TIPS or online at http://oig.hhs.gov/fraud/report-fraud/index.asp.
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Your Guide to Understanding Critical Illness Insurance
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