Various scams have made their way into our society. From bogus charities, to Nigerian rackets, to get-rich-quick schemes, criminals are at work to defraud people, organizations, and agencies of their money.
One such scam is health care fraud. In certain instances, people do not see the money come directly from their wallets but instead Medicare is the victim.
How does it work? Well, seniors might be charged for services that never took place, or patients may unwittingly receive unnecessary procedures. Either way, Medicare is deceived
There are also instances where health care scams directly affect a senior’s resources. One such example is where patients are manipulated in to believing they need products they may not. Medicare might not cover the items; therefore, individuals pay out of their own pockets.
So what can seniors do to protect themselves? Here are a few ideas.
- Don’t be bullied in to buying pricey products unless your doctor agrees that you need the item/s.
- Never give out personal information (Medicare insurer number, SS#, etc.) unless you are certain the person you are talking to is a legitimate health care provider (even then, it is preferable to provide the information in person).
- Always review medical bills to ensure they are accurate and that no erroneous charges are included.
- Only let authorized medical professionals have access to your medical records.
- Try to keep accurate records (maybe in a notebook) concerning all medical procedures, appointments, medications, and bills (in the event something questionable should pop up).
- Be suspect of anyone who tries to make you believe that a service or product is not covered under Medicare but “not to worry” because the caller or representative knows strategic ways to get around it.
Unfortunately, scams abound, and a number of them involve health care. A newer con that recently surfaced centered on Medicare’s prescription drug rebate program. Some seniors received a call from swindlers pretending to be Medicare employees. The fraudsters alleged they needed personal information before the recipients could receive their checks. Medicare characteristically does not call and ask for this type of data, so never give out private information over the phone.
Whether it is unscrupulous people bilking the system or heartless swindlers targeting seniors, Medicare scams are a reality. Should you have questions concerning Medicare fraud, the hotline 1-800-447-8477 or the Web site www.medicare.gov (Reporting Medicare Fraud section) might have some answers.
