Aunty Lei thought she had seen every kind of scam, but one afternoon she found a package of medical braces she never ordered. A few days later, her Medicare Summary Notice showed charges for lab tests she didn’t recognize. Unsure what to do, she remembered hearing about SMP Hawaii at her senior center and decided to call.
An SMP counselor listened carefully as she explained what happened. Together, they went through her statements and quickly spotted several suspicious charges. The counselor helped her report the fraud, document each detail, and understand how scammers often target kupuna by abusing their Medicare numbers.
But Aunty Lei still had questions about her coverage. Would these false charges affect her benefits? Could they cause future claims to be denied? She was referred to Hawaii SHIP, where a SHIP counselor helped to review her Medicare plan, check her claims, and understand her rights. SHIP also taught her how to read her statements with confidence.
Aunty Lei felt reassured knowing that SMP protects her from fraud, while SHIP helps her understand and resolve Medicare issues. She realized she didn’t have to face this alone.
Tips to Protect Yourself:
Contact Information:
SMP Hawaii: https://www.smphawaii.org/ 808-586-7281 Toll Free: 1-800-296-9422
Hawaii SHIP: https://www.hawaiiship.org/ 808-586-7299 Toll Free: 1-888-875-9229
