The OIG also has an online form you can fill out to report Medicare fraud
Medicare fraud
In the United States, Medicare fraud is the collection of Medicare health care reimbursement under false pretenses. There are many different types of Medicare fraud, all of which have the same goal: to collect money from the Medicare program illegitimately.
Full Answer
What do I do if I get a scam call about Medicare?
If you gave out your Medicare number, call 1-800-MEDICARE. If you gave the caller any funds, cancel them through your bank or credit card company if possible. Unfortunately, most scammers try to get victims to pay using untraceable means, like a wire transfer.
How can I identify Medicare fraud?
Knowledge truly is power when it comes to Medicare fraud. Knowing that Medicare will never call you and ask for your Medicare number, for example, will alert you to fraud if you do receive a call like this. It’s also important to understand your Medicare benefits and read your statements carefully.
What are the different types of Medicare scams?
Full List of Medicare Scams Below The range of schemes could be: Medicare scam calls, Medicare genetic testing, bogus medical alert systems, Medicare Advantage scam, fake medical alert devices, Medicare Coverage Helpline scam, and many other types of Medicare abuse.
How do I report identity theft from Medicare?
A customer service representative from 1-800-MEDICARE can call you if you’ve called and left a message or a representative said that someone would call you back. Contact the Federal Trade Commission if you think you’ve been a victim of identity theft.
Is there a scam asking for Medicare number?
A caller will pretend to offer durable medical equipment or a medical checkup at no cost to you because “Medicare will cover it.” The only catch is that the caller needs your SSN or Medicare Number to verify coverage and/or a credit card number to cover shipping costs for the free supplies.
Why am I getting so many phone calls about Medicare?
Phone calls Sometimes, they're selling phony products such as supplemental or prescription drug Medicare plans. The whole purpose of all of these calls is to obtain your personal information, whether that is your Medicare card number, your Social Security number, or banking information.
How do I stop Medicare scam calls?
To register, call from the phone which you want on the Do Not Call list. The phone number is 1-888-382-1222. You can also register your phone number online as well, but you'll need to be sure you have an email account to do so. Also, register both your cell phone and home phone to put an end to the calls.
Does Medicare ever contact you by phone?
A Medicare health or drug plan may call you if you're already a member of the plan. The agent who helped you join can also call you. A customer service representative from 1-800-MEDICARE can call you if you've called and left a message or a representative said that someone would call you back.
How do I report a phone number that keeps calling?
The FTC is the primary government agency that collects scam complaints. Report all robocalls and unwanted telemarketing calls to the Do Not Call Registry. Report caller ID spoofing to the Federal Communications Commission. You can report either online or by phone at 1-888-225-5322 (TTY: 1-888-835-5322).
What happens if you press 1 on a scam call?
Even just pressing a key or answering a question alerts scammers that they've hit on a “live” number, and they'll call it again and again. It's important to note that many robocalls are legal.
What happens if you answer a scam call?
If you answer the call, your number is considered 'good' by the scammers, even if you don't necessarily fall for the scam. They will try again because they know someone on the other side is a potential victim of fraud. The less you answer, the fewer robocalls you will receive.
What happens if you call back a spam number?
There's no danger in getting the call: the danger is in calling back and racking up a whopping bill. Although in practice the danger is probably not that large, in short, the answer to your question is potentially yes; and more likely yes if you know they're spammers than if you don't know who they are.
Aggressive or threatening tactics
Fraudulent sellers of Medicare plans may call many times throughout the day, leave numerous voice mails, or call you back even after you hang up.
Unsolicited phone calls
Medicare scammers may pretend to work for the government or claim to represent legitimate insurance companies. They can even change their caller identification information to make it look like they are calling from your local Medicare office.
Identity verification
Fake "identity verification" scams are an easy way for criminals to get your Social Security number, full name, home address, and other information that enables them to steal your identity. Sometimes they even ask for a credit card number for verification purposes, as a way to access your financial accounts.
Email solicitations
A few simple design tools can make an email look like it came from Medicare or an insurance provider. Scammers can even spoof Medicare email addresses, or redirect you to a web page that looks identical to the real Medicare page.
Mail solicitation
While some Medicare plans and service providers may contact you through the mail, many scammers also send fake plan documents. Rather than directly responding using the contact information listed in direct mailings, research plans on the Medicare page or on your preferred Medicare Advantage insurer's website.
Door-to-Door Sales
Insurance agents cannot show up at your house to sell you a plan without an appointment. This means that a door-to-door solicitor offering to sell you a plan is likely a scammer. Do not give them personal information or allow them into your home.
How to contact Medicare if your information has been compromised?
If you believe your personal information has been compromised, you can also reach out to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357).
How much was recovered from healthcare fraud in 2019?
Healthcare fraud is more common than you realize. In fiscal year 2019 alone, the federal government recovered $2.6 billion in healthcare fraud and false claims. 1 Keep in mind that number only reflects the cases that were actually caught. Odds are there was more loss that went undetected.
When is open enrollment for Medicare?
Medical Open Enrollment season runs from October 15 to December 7. During this time, seniors are inundated with mail about different Medicare plans. Some of that information may be valid, others may represent false advertising. It is important to separate fact from fiction.
Can you change your Medicare plan?
Claims that a representative must come to your home to finalize your plan. To be clear, you can only change Medicare plans during certain enrollment periods. Part B premiums are fixed based on your income. Unless you qualify for a Medicare Savings Plan through Medicare, your Part B premium will not be decreased.
Does Medicare cover genetic testing?
For the record, you never need to activate or renew your Medicare card, there are no approved treatments for COVID-19, and Medicare rarely covers genetic testing. Also, some medical supply companies may offer "high-quality" products like braces but go on to deliver inexpensive low-quality versions.
Does Medicare call unsolicited?
Medicare is not going to call you unsolicited. If for some reason more information is needed to process your Medicare application, the Social Security Administration will first reach out to you with an official letter to schedule a phone interview.
Can a scammer sell your information?
Scammers could even sell your personal information on the dark web and try to access your financial records. It is important to recognize these scams when they happen and to report them to prevent this kind of abuse. 10'000 Hours / Getty Images.
Full List of Medicare Scams Below
The range of schemes could be: Medicare scam calls, Medicare genetic testing, bogus medical alert systems, Medicare Advantage scam, fake medical alert devices, Medicare Coverage Helpline scam, and many other types of Medicare abuse.
Bidencare Health Email
The Bidencare Health Email Scam takes advantage of people interested in getting the health insurance through the Bidencare enrollment.
Fake COVID-19 Vaccine
A new COVID-19 vaccine scam is happening today. It's known as the Fierce Pharma Email Scam, Pfizer Online Registration or the NHS Invite.
Natural Health Sherpa Scam
Watch out for the Natural Health Sherpa Scam, which is happening this week. If you just received an invoice referencing the company.
Free Medicare Back Brace
Beware of the Free Medicare Back Brace Scam. How does it work? It comes to a phone call offering no-cost back braces covered by Medicare.
MyBenefitsKeeper Reviews and Health Insurance Innovations Scam Complaints
We've received complaints from people worrying about a potential MyBenefitsKeeper scam. Here are some Health Insurance Innovations reviews.
ZuPoo Colon Cleanse
There is a bit of craziness these days about a potential ZuPoo scam. What is it? Miracle products. Read these ZoPoo colon cleanse reviews.
What do scammers call Medicare?
Scam operators (many with foreign accents) call beneficiaries claiming to represent Medicare. They may say that new Medicare benefits cards are being issued and threaten to cancel Medicare coverage unless the beneficiary’s information is updated; claim they can improve benefits; “verify” your new Medicare card number to make sure you received your card; tell you to send in your old one, or claim they are selling Medicare policies. The caller might even ask for your information to send you a gift card. Sometimes, they’re selling phony products such as supplemental or prescription drug Medicare plans.
What is the purpose of Medicare scam calls?
The whole purpose of all of these calls is to obtain your personal information, whether that is your Medicare card number, your Social Security number, or banking information. Some of these scammers even have the technological ability to make the call appear on caller ID as if it is coming from an official place.
What is medical identity theft?
Medical identity theft is when someone steals or uses your personal information (like your name, Social Security Number, or Medicare Number) to submit fraudulent claims to Medicare and other health insurers without your permission. This isn’t like the bank or your credit card where identity theft is usually covered.
What happens if you have a fraudulent Medicare account?
If Medicare suspects malicious activity with an account, the person with coverage could be held accountable and wind up spending thousands in legal fees to resolve the issue. Protect yourself and your loved ones from these Medicare scams.
Is Medicare brace a scam?
If someone calls and says they’re from Medicare and offers you a “free” or “low cost” brace, hang up. No one from Medicare will call you with such an offer. It’s a scam. The FTC advises refusing medical equipment that is mailed to you unless your doctor ordered it. Don’t pay for anything you didn’t order.
Can you get a call from someone with a Medicare number?
Medical Equipment. You may get calls from people promising you things if you give them a Medicare Number. Don’t do it. The Federal Trade Commission warns, “Scammers have been targeting Medicare recipients with a scheme to get “free or low-cost” back and knee braces.
Is DNA testing a scam?
The US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General warns of this genetic testing fraud scheme. If anyone offers you a “free” or discounted DNA test, whether it be through the mail, on the phone, or even at a health fair, be wary. The scammers offer cheek swabs to scan for cancer or predispositions for other serious illnesses, and claim that Medicare will cover the costs, but in reality, they’re after your Medicare information for identity theft or fraudulent billing purposes.
Why do scammers ask for my Medicare number?
Some scammers ask for your Medicare number so they can get Medicare to pay them for benefits you've never received or didn't need. While this doesn't take money directly out of your pocket, it does cause the government to spend more on your benefits, raising costs for everybody.
What happens if you fall for a Medicare scam?
If you fall for this scam, it could eat away at your benefits and prevent Medicare from covering similar tests in the future. And if a doctor doesn't order the test as medically necessary, you could end up footing the bill yourself. Many victims never receive their test results.
How to avoid Medicare fraud?
Help yourself and others avoid fraud in the future by reporting any scams that target you. File a complaint with the FTC to help them track Medicare fraud and scams.
What is the biggest Medicare fraud case?
Unnecessary medical braces. 2019 saw one of the largest Medicare fraud cases ever investigated by the FBI. In a scheme that lined criminal pockets with $13 million, scammers sold unnecessary durable medical equipment (DME) to Medicare beneficiaries—then billed the government for it. The medical brace crackdown will result in trials ...
How much money did Americans lose to Medicare fraud in 2019?
According to the FTC, Americans lost $717.3 million to fraud in 2019. 3 And the top two kinds of fraud in the nation—imposter scams and identity theft—are also the most common types of Medicare fraud. Chances are, you or someone you know has received a phone call from someone trying to get your Medicare or Social Security number.
What do imposters do to Medicare?
Imposters who threaten to take away your Medicare benefits typically ask for money to prevent a (false) negative consequence. They’re after your money and may ask you to pay them in untraceable methods such as a wire transfer or gift cards.
How many fraud reports were filed in 2019?
Over the first half of 2019, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) received 1,476,512 reports of fraud, identity theft, and other related crimes. 1 Of those, 72,789 reports involved criminals posing as Social Security Administration (SSA) employees and 21,356 were about scammers posing as Medicare and other health officials. 2
What to do if you find a discrepancy in Medicare?
If you find a discrepancy, call your doctor’s office first to rule out an innocent error.
What happens when someone steals your medical information?
Medical identity theft happens directly to you when someone steals your personal information, especially a Medicare number, to get devices, treatment or medicine, and submits fraudulent claims under your name.
Is a scooter a scam?
Scooters, back braces and other devices that are offered at “no cost to you” are in many cases scams to defraud Medicare and give you an inferior product, if you get it at all. Under the federal False Claims Act, if you are part of a false claim operation — known to you or not — you may be liable.
