Protect Yourself from Medical Identity Theft

Medical identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information without permission to commit Medicare fraud or other crimes. It’s a growing problem nationwide and here in Hawaiʻi, but the good news is that there are simple, practical steps you can take to protect yourself and your benefits.

Do: Stay Alert and Take Preventive Steps

• Check your statements – Review the bills and Medicare Summary Notices you receive from doctors, hospitals, or other providers. If you see a charge you don’t understand, call the provider’s office right away.
• Know what Medicare will (and won’t) do – Medicare will never call to sell you anything or come to your home. Medicare, or someone representing Medicare, will only call in certain cases—for example, if you asked them to return your call, after you joined a plan, reported fraud, or left a message.

Don’t: Share Information or Fall for Scams

• Don’t share your personal numbers – Never give your Medicare card, Medicare Number, Social Security card, or Social Security Number to anyone except your doctor, trusted providers, or people you know should have it (such as your insurer or Hawaiʻi SHIP staff at hawaiiship.org). SHIP stands for the State Health Insurance Assistance Program, a sister program to SMP Hawaii.
• Don’t accept gifts for care – Be cautious if someone offers you money or free gifts in exchange for medical services.
• Don’t let strangers access your records – Only your doctor or trusted Medicare providers should review your medical records or suggest services.
• Don’t sign up over the phone unless you started the call – Never join a Medicare health or drug plan over the phone unless you made the call yourself.

Why This Matters

Protecting your medical identity keeps your Medicare benefits safe, ensures your records remain accurate, and prevents criminals from using your information for fraud. Taking these precautions now helps ensure that Medicare will be there for you when you need it most.

Take Action

If you think your medical identity has been stolen, or if something doesn’t look right:

➡ Contact SMP Hawaii. The Senior Medicare Patrol can help you protect your benefits and stop fraud before it spreads.

Together, we can safeguard Hawaiʻi’s kūpuna, families, and future generations by staying vigilant and informed.