Living in Hawaiʻi is expensive, and many kūpuna rely on fixed incomes to cover housing, food, medicine, and care. But Medicare fraud, billing mistakes, and identity theft are making it even harder. Scammers and dishonest providers cost Medicare an estimated $60 billion each year, and kūpuna are often the ones who pay the price – in money, stress, and even unsafe medical care.
With fewer health care workers statewide, mistakes happen more easily. Rushed visits and staff turnover can lead to wrong charges or incorrect information in your medical record. Even small errors can cause big problems.
The most serious threat is medical identity theft. When someone uses your Medicare number, false diagnoses or treatments can be added to your record. This can lead to dangerous medical decisions later, or Medicare denying care you actually need.
The good news: simple steps make a big difference.
– Treat your Medicare card like a credit card.
– Don’t share your Medicare or Social Security number with unexpected callers.
– Remember that Medicare will never call to ask for your number or to send a new card.
– Check your Medicare Summary Notice or Explanation of Benefits regularly and make sure the charges match your care.
If something doesn’t look right, contact Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) Hawaiʻi at 1‑800‑296‑9422 or visit www.smphawaii.org. SMP Hawaiʻi can help you understand your benefits, report suspected fraud, and protect your identity – and you can even volunteer to help yourself and others stay safe.
