At Everence®, we empower our members and clients to make informed decisions about their financial well-being. Knowing what to look for in potential fraud can help save your livelihood and that of your loved ones.
March 6 is “Slam the Scam” Day, observed by federal, state and local government, as well as nonprofits and private companies to help people protect themselves from scams.
The Federal Trade Commission reported that consumers lost over $10 billion to scams in 2023. Consumers lost more than $4.6 billion to investment scams and almost $2.7 billion to imposter scams.
Scammers target individuals and businesses in attempts to steal money or personal information. They pretend to be a well-known business or organization, they try to lure people through “prizes,” they pressure victims to act quickly, or they ask to be paid in currency that is hard to trace, like cryptocurrencies, gift cards or wire transfers.
Here are some of the most common schemes related to Medicare to look out for:
- Durable Medical Equipment Provider Scam: This occurs when someone reaches out offering you a brace, wheelchair, diabetic strips or other devices for “free,” claiming Medicare will pay for the item. Scammers may try to steal your identity or charge Medicare for equipment in your name, only for you to never receive the item.
- Fake Genetic Testing Scam: Medicare rarely covers genetic testing; however, scammers will use this scheme as a tactic to obtain a person’s Medicare number so they can apply false charges to Medicare.
- Upgraded Medicare Card Scheme: Individuals posing as Medicare representatives will call offering upgraded, hard plastic Medicare cards with a chip in them. The scammer asks for payment and your Medicare number.
- Hospice Fraud: Some scammers partner with dishonest healthcare practitioners who “diagnose” otherwise healthy individuals as terminally ill and on hospice. The scammer is then able to send paperwork through to Medicare claiming thousands of dollars of Medicare payments for the erroneous hospice services.
New scams are reported often, so it’s important to stay informed. None of us want to fall victim to scams or see loved ones in a position where they are vulnerable, so keep the following rules in mind when faced with suspicious communication:
- Medicare will not call you unless you’ve made a previous appointment with them
- Treat your Medicare card like a credit card: don’t share your Medicare card number with someone you don’t trust.
- Record appointments and services, so you have a ready resource to double-check if you are suspicious of a provider bill or a charge.
- Pay attention to your Medicare summary notices and your Everence Explanations of Benefits.
- Be suspicious if a doctor, health care provider or supplier tells you:
- The equipment or service is free, and they only need your Medicare number for their records.
- Medicare wants you to have a certain item or service.
- They “know” how to get Medicare to pay for the specified item or service.
- Don’t accept deliveries you didn’t order.
- Don’t take advice or offers of medical services from unknown callers.
If you see an unfamiliar provider name or service listed on a Medicare Summary Notice or feel like you may be a victim of a Medicare-related scam, you can:
- Call your health care provider directly to inquire about the service/charge.
- Call Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE.
- Call the fraud hotline of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-HHS-TIPS.
- Contact your local Everence representative to report the fraudulent provider/charge.
If you report fraudulent activity and receive a new Medicare card, make sure to share the new information with your health care providers and Everence to ensure your health care claims are processed correctly on your behalf.
If you aren’t sure about the legitimacy of a call, email or letter, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Let a family member, loved one or trusted professional (like your local Everence representative) know about the situation. Together, we can make better decisions and stay safe from scams.