in which someone uses your Medicare card or number in order to get services for themselves.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nObviously, both types are best avoided. <\/span><\/p>\n6 Tips to Avoid Medicare Fraud<\/h2>\n1. Keep your Medicare and social security numbers secure.<\/h3>\n
Don\u2019t share them with anyone that doesn\u2019t need them for medical purposes (like the staff at your doctor\u2019s office) or that you don\u2019t trust completely. Some fraudsters manage to cheat Medicare successfully simply because a senior was polite enough to provide them with sensitive personal information when asked. Guard that information carefully and never reveal it to a stranger.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n2. Don\u2019t carry your Medicare card with you at times you don\u2019t need it.<\/h3>\n
It\u2019s easy enough to stick your Medicare card in your wallet or purse and not think about it, but if your wallet gets stolen or you forget it somewhere in public, thieves will have access to the information they need to claim your Medicare benefits as their own. This means you\u2019ll have to make a special point to remember it the times you do need it, but that\u2019s much easier than having to deal with identity theft.<\/span><\/p>\n3. Speak up during your doctors\u2019 visits.<\/h3>\n
It\u2019s natural to want to trust our health care providers implicitly and assume everything they suggest is for the best. But the way our health care system is structured now means that medical professionals can often benefit by running tests or performing medical procedures that aren\u2019t actually necessary. Don\u2019t be afraid to ask questions about the treatments your physicians recommend. Ask if they\u2019re really necessary, what would happen if you didn\u2019t pursue that treatment option, and how the costs of the different options compare.<\/span><\/p>\n4. Review your Medicare statements.<\/h3>\n
Part of what makes Medicare fraud easy to get away with is how many people don\u2019t ever bother looking at their statements. You should document your healthcare as you go \u2013 what appointments you have, what procedures and tests occur, and what prescriptions you\u2019re given. Then, when your statement comes in, check your records against what\u2019s there.<\/span><\/p>\nYou\u2019ll see if anything was charged twice or tests show up on the bill that were never mentioned during your visit. Talk to your doctor about anything on the statement that doesn\u2019t look right to see if they have a sensible explanation. If not, you may be dealing with fraud.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n5. Don\u2019t believe it if someone who comes to your door or calls you on the phone claims to be from Medicare.<\/h3>\n
Medicare will never contact you door-to-door or solicit personal information over the phone. If someone does contact you in one of these manners and try to sell you medical products and services or ask for your Medicare number, tell them no and report them.<\/span><\/p>\n6. Don\u2019t buy in to prescription ads.<\/h3>\n
Medicare abuse extends to patients requesting and receiving services they don\u2019t need. Pharmaceutical ads are often designed to make you think you have health problems you don\u2019t and need their treatment for it. Be skeptical. <\/span><\/p>\nHow to Report Medical Fraud<\/h2>\n
If you suspect Medicare fraud is occurring, you can report it by calling 1-800-HHS-TIPS<\/strong> or emailing <\/span>HHSTips@oig.hhs.gov<\/a><\/strong>. Describe all the details you know about the incident and let them know any information you have about the offender.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"How To Prevent Medicare Fraud Medicare fraud is a rampant problem that\u2019s causing taxpayers unnecessary costs. The amount of money lost to Medicare fraud is estimated to be $60 billion per year, a full 10% of Medicare\u2019s total costs. With a system as large and complicated as Medicare, catching the fraud when it happens is an uphill battle. Seniors can […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2199,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[200,234],"tags":[203,611],"class_list":{"0":"post-6595","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-families-caregivers","7":"category-senior-services","8":"tag-medicare","9":"tag-safety-tips"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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![\"How](\"https:\/\/s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/img.prod.aplaceformom.com\/main\/uploads\/sa-blog\/2015\/08\/How-To-Prevent-Medicare-Fraud-350x350.jpg\")
<\/h1>\n