Protecting your Medicare number has never been more important. Every year, scammers target our kūpuna, using stolen Medicare information to file false claims that drain an estimated $60 billion annually.
Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) Hawaii, a program of the Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) Executive Office on Aging, reminds Hawaii residents to protect themselves from Medicare fraud, errors and abuse. Medicare Fraud Prevention Week is from June 1-5, 2026.
Fraudsters rely on the fact that many times, people overlook charges on their Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) or Explanation of Benefits (EOB) from their health plan.
These notices are marked, “This Is Not a Bill” and list services that were charged using your Medicare number. One of the best ways to protect yourself from fraud and identity theft is learning how to detect strange or unusual charges.
“Our kūpuna deserve to feel safe when using Medicare,” said Norma Kop, SMP Hawai‘i director. “Learning to check your Medicare statements is one of the strongest ways to protect yourself and your ‘ohana.”
Regularly review your MSN or EOB and immediately report suspicious charges to SMP Hawaii, which can help verify and refer the case to the appropriate authority. You can also create an online account on Medicare.gov to see your claims that Medicare processed.
Free Resources During MFP Week:
Contact SMP Hawaii to find out more about free one-on-one counseling, presentations and resources available to increase your awareness to click smart and stay safe online.
For more information, visit https://www.smphawaii.org/, or email info@smphawaii.org. To learn how to volunteer for SMP Hawaii, call toll free at 1-800-296-9422.
