Medicare fraud drives up the costs for everyone on Medicare.To protect yourself and your loved ones, we recommend checking out the following fraud tips:
- Don't share your Medicare number with anyone who contacts you by phone, email or in person - unless you've given them advanced permission. Medicare will never contact you for your Medicare number or other personal information.
- Guard your Medicare card just like you would a credit card.
- Don’t ever let anyone borrow or pay to use your Medicare number.
- Never give out personal information such as your Social Security, bank account or credit-card numbers over the phone unless you've initiated the contact.
- Keep your receipts and bills, and compare them to your Medicare Summary Notice (www.medicare.gov) to be sure you received all the services, supplies, or equipment listed.
- Make sure you buy from a licensed agent. Ask to see their credentials.
- Be careful of any salesperson who says he or she is from Medicare. Medicare does not send sales people to solicit your business.
Insurance agents and brokers can't:
- Market Medicare products or share plan details in doctor's offices, clinics, or pharmacy counters, or at educational events.
- Offer free meals to potential clients listening to a Medicare sales presentation or for signing up for a particular plan.
- Sell additional insurance products during any sales or marketing presentation for a Medicare Advantage or Medicare Part D plan.
- Give "early bird discounts" or "limited-time" offers.
- Initiate unsolicited door-to-door visits, phone calls emails or any other type of sales contact without your express invitation.
SHIBA is Washington state's Senior Medicare Patrol (www.smpresource.org) project. We can help clients prevent, detect and report Medicare and Medicaid fraud and abuse. If you have questions or suspect fraud or abuse, call us at 800-562-6900.