Medicare loses billions, yes, that’s billions, every year because of healthcare fraud. Traditionally, to detect Medicare fraud, a limited number of auditors, or investigators, are responsible for manually inspecting thousands of claims but only have enough time to look for very specific patterns indicating suspicious behaviors.
Moreover, there are not enough investigators to keep up with the various Medicare fraud schemes, so that is why everyone needs to play a part in the fight against fraud.
One question I receive very often is: How do scammers get my personal Medicare
information?
Ways a Scammer Can Get Your Medicare Information:
Your card is lost, stolen, or copied. Words of advice: Do not carry your Medicare card with you. Leave it at home. Carry it with you only if you are going to your doctor or hospital. Even in an emergency, you do not need to carry your Medicare card.
A beneficiary unwittingly gives out their Medicare number. Medicare scammers often use the phone to find targets, but they may also reach out via email, text messages, and postal mail. Never give out your number over the telephone. Never respond to emails or texts supposedly from providers or others requesting that you confirm your Medicare number because of a problem with your Medicare account. Remember, Medicare will never call you on the phone, email, or text you asking for your personal information.
Cyber-attacks are becoming increasingly common. Your personal information, including your Medicare information, can be stored in many databases. Scammers are always looking for ways to access this data to use your information to benefit the scammer to sell to other scammers or to demand ransom.
Tips to Help Prevent Medicare Fraud:
Do not answer calls from numbers you do not recognize, even if it is a local number.
Guard your Medicare card and numbers like a credit card number; do not give out or confirm your Medicare number to anyone who calls, texts, or emails you without first verifying the caller.
Do not accept services you do not need, even if the caller says that they are free or that Medicare will cover them.
If you have any questions or would like to report Medicare fraud or abuse, please call your local Tennessee SMP office at 1-866-836-7677.
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