Prevent Fraud
Protect Your Personal Information
Guard your Medicare and Social Security Numbers. Treat them like you would treat your credit cards.
Be suspicious of anyone who offers you free medical equipment or services and then requests your Medicare number. If it’s free, they do not need your number!
Do not let anyone borrow or pay to use your Medicare ID card or your identity. It’s illegal, and it’s not worth it!
If your Medicare card is lost or stolen, report it right away. Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) for a replacement. If you get benefits from the Railroad Retirement Board, call 1 877 772 5772, or visit www.rrb.gov.
Check Your Medical Bills, Medicare Summary Notices, Explanation of Benefits, and Credit Reports
Be suspicious of doctors, health care providers, or suppliers that do anything on this list:
- Equipment or service is offered free and you are then asked for your Medicare number for “record keeping purposes”.
- Medicare wants you to have the item or service in exchange for your Medicare number.
- Tell you how to get Medicare to pay for the item or service and all that is needed is your Medicare number.
- You are told the more tests provided, the cheaper the tests become in the future.
- Don’t charge copayments without checking on your ability to pay.
- Advertise “free” consultations to people with Medicare.
- Call or visit you and say they represent Medicare or the Federal government.
- Use telephone or door-to-door selling techniques.
- Use pressure or scare tactics to sell you expensive medical services or diagnostic tests.
- Bill Medicare for services you never received or a diagnosis you do not have.
- Offer non-medical transportation or housekeeping as Medicare-approved services.
- Bill home health services for patients who are not confined to their home, or for patients who still drive a car.
- Bill Medicare for medical equipment for people in nursing homes.
- Bill Medicare for tests you received as a hospital inpatient or within 72 hours of admission or discharge.
- Bill Medicare for a power wheelchair or scooter when you don’t meet Medicare’s qualifications.
