Scammers target confused Medicare recipients
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News from the Lake County Agency on Aging
Medicare is not part of the health insurance marketplace established by the Affordable Care Act. You do not have to replace your Medicare coverage. No matter whether you get your Medicare coverage through original Medicare with a supplement or a Medicare Advantage plan, you’ll still have the same cards, coverage, and security you have now.
Scammers are taking advantage of the confusion over the new insurance marketplace and using lack of understanding to trick people out of money or their personal information. Callers are claiming to update your card, provide a new service, or even add benefits to your Medicare. They are actually only trying to get your personal information, Medicare number or banking information to steal from you and/or Medicare. If you get such a call, do not give them any information and report the call to the Senior Medicare Patrol at 1-800-551-3191.
People on Medicare or Medicaid will not need to make a change due to “Obamacare,” the Affordable Care Act, or the health insurance marketplace. The government will not call anyone to sell insurance or update cards. It is illegal to sell a plan to a person on Medicare or Medicaid, as they do not need it.
The number one deterrent to Medicare fraud, waste and abuse is beneficiaries who read their Medicare summary notices and medical bills. Things to watch for are: provider names that are unfamiliar, office visits you did not make, treatments you did not receive, durable medical equipment you do not have, or prescriptions you do not take.
Please read your statements and if you have questions contact the Senior Medicare Patrol at 1-800-551-3191.
