Medicare fraud costs taxpayers billions of dollars each year and puts individuals at risk of losing their benefits or facing medical identity theft. The good news is that you can play a vital role in protecting your benefits. Here are actionable steps you can take:
Your Medicare number is as valuable as your financial information. Thieves can use it to steal your medical identity or bill Medicare for services you didn’t receive. Protect your card and only share your number with trusted healthcare providers.
Never accept unsolicited offers of medical services from strangers, whether they call, visit your home, or approach you in public. Scammers often target individuals with too-good-to-be-true deals or fake health services.
Always read your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) or Explanation of Benefits (EOB) carefully. Look out for:
If you find an error, don’t hesitate to address it with your doctor or the insurance company.
Mistakes or suspicious charges may not always be fraud, but it’s important to clarify them. Start by contacting your healthcare provider or insurance company. If your concerns aren’t resolved, reach out to SMP Hawaii or a similar program in your area for guidance.
No one understands the importance of preventing Medicare fraud better than those who rely on it. Join your local Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) program to help educate others in your community and safeguard Medicare.
At SMP Hawaii, we empower Medicare beneficiaries to protect, detect, and report fraud, errors, and abuse. Our trained volunteers provide:
We’re also here to assist with non-healthcare-related scams by directing you to the right resources. Together, we can keep Medicare secure for everyone.
For more information or to volunteer, contact SMP Hawaii today.
