Keeping Seniors Safe From Medicare Fraud
With Medicare enrollment season coming to an end on December 7th, some seniors may be scrambling to assess plans and make final decisions. Medicare is still a very confusing topic to many seniors, and worrying about the risk of fraud can add to this frustration. During this rushed state, it’s important not to lose sight of potential issues with fraud. Keeping Seniors Safe From Medicare Fraud
Based on an Express Scripts survey, 10% of seniors said they or someone they know has been the victim of healthcare fraud. In fact, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has alerted seniors to several scams associated with Medicare and the Affordable Care Act.
Be careful with calls: Whether you’ve received calls requesting that you sign up for one plan in particular, calls offering you deep discounts on health services or calls from a government representative – BE WARY. If you are questioning an offer you’re receiving, reach out to the FTC or contact your current Medicare Part D plan to determine the validity of the request.
Keep track of your personal information: Never give out personal information including your social security number, bank or credit/debit card number or passwords to anyone you don’t know or haven’t specifically initiated contact with directly. This should also apply to your insurance/Medicare Part D card or ID number, which should always be kept in a secure spot. If you’re unsure, reach out to the company contacting you at a later point after you’ve had time to research their credibility.
Only look for CMS-approved plans: Before enrolling in a Medicare plan, visit www.Medicare.gov. This is the home page of the official U.S. government site for Medicare. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) require that all plans be approved. If your plan is approved by CMS, it will be listed on Medicare.gov. And don’t forget, CMS prohibits door-to-door selling of approved Medicare plans.
Toss with caution: Remove or black out personal information on prescription bottles and other health-related forms and documents before discarding. Even better…shred all personal information before discarding it in the garbage.
If you suspect you have been a victim of identity theft, or if you think you gave your personal information to someone you should not have, contact the Federal Trade Commission at www.consumer.ftc.gov.
Express Scripts has developed http://www.roadmapformedicare.com to serve as a resource for Americans looking for information on Medicare, retirement and healthy lifestyle tips. To stay up-to-date with the latest Medicare news, sign up for a free newsletter about retirement planning and Medicare at http://www.roadmapformedicare.com/sign-up/.
