In October of 2010, nearly 50 people were arrested in a massive Medicare fraud scheme.
These brazen criminals took the identities of hundreds of physicians and seniors, then turned around and used these identities to set up 100 fake clinics in 20 U.
S.
states.
Once the clinics were started, they billed Medicare for more than $75 million in the largest Medicare fraud seen in years.
Incredibly, they were not the only large bust for illegal Medicare activities that month.
A group of mental health clinics in South Florida were charged with filing more than $150 million in false claims for group therapy sessions that, in fact were never conducted.
Scams like these using Medicare are not uncommon, and experts believe that they cost Americans more than $3 billion each year.
These brazen scams, though, are not what seniors should be concerned about.
Seniors need to learn how to protect themselves from Medicare fraud because all of these unscrupulous providers out there looking to make $200 or $300 and fly under the radar of law enforcement.
Some examples of common scams involve convincing seniors that they should purchase medical supplies for which they have no need, or they simply take people's Medicare numbers and sell them to criminals around the world.
How do these scams work? Often, the thieves take the Medicare numbers then bill people for the related items they never ordered.
Then, they charge the government and keep the money they are reimbursed from Medicare.
Seniors should also be careful when they see companies they've never heard of offering free services like screenings for high blood pressure.
Then they'll take your Medicare numbers and sell them to other criminals.
Although seniors who get caught up in these types of scams generally do not find themselves in financial trouble, they may find that their medical records can be corrupted by these criminals.
For example, if an older American applies for a long-term care policy, they may learn that they are not eligible because their records contain many, many unnecessary tests and expensive prescriptions.
It can then take months and dozens of phone calls to straighten out the false records.
Worse, as Medicare catches on to these scams, they may end up cutting off services to seniors who actually have real medical needs.
How can you protect yourself? - Treat your Medicare card like a credit card.
You should make sure no strangers get access to your card, even if the person claims to be calling from Social Security or Medicare.
Also, although it may be tempting, do not let friends borrow your card.
- Free does not mean free.
If someone calls you with an offer for a free medical service in exchange for your information, politely decline.
Giving out your Medicare number in exchange for a "free service" is never necessary.
- Do not accept medical supplies, equipment or services that you do not need.
Even if you think a diabetes monitor may come in handy down the road, do not accept it.
These brazen criminals took the identities of hundreds of physicians and seniors, then turned around and used these identities to set up 100 fake clinics in 20 U.
S.
states.
Once the clinics were started, they billed Medicare for more than $75 million in the largest Medicare fraud seen in years.
Incredibly, they were not the only large bust for illegal Medicare activities that month.
A group of mental health clinics in South Florida were charged with filing more than $150 million in false claims for group therapy sessions that, in fact were never conducted.
Scams like these using Medicare are not uncommon, and experts believe that they cost Americans more than $3 billion each year.
These brazen scams, though, are not what seniors should be concerned about.
Seniors need to learn how to protect themselves from Medicare fraud because all of these unscrupulous providers out there looking to make $200 or $300 and fly under the radar of law enforcement.
Some examples of common scams involve convincing seniors that they should purchase medical supplies for which they have no need, or they simply take people's Medicare numbers and sell them to criminals around the world.
How do these scams work? Often, the thieves take the Medicare numbers then bill people for the related items they never ordered.
Then, they charge the government and keep the money they are reimbursed from Medicare.
Seniors should also be careful when they see companies they've never heard of offering free services like screenings for high blood pressure.
Then they'll take your Medicare numbers and sell them to other criminals.
Although seniors who get caught up in these types of scams generally do not find themselves in financial trouble, they may find that their medical records can be corrupted by these criminals.
For example, if an older American applies for a long-term care policy, they may learn that they are not eligible because their records contain many, many unnecessary tests and expensive prescriptions.
It can then take months and dozens of phone calls to straighten out the false records.
Worse, as Medicare catches on to these scams, they may end up cutting off services to seniors who actually have real medical needs.
How can you protect yourself? - Treat your Medicare card like a credit card.
You should make sure no strangers get access to your card, even if the person claims to be calling from Social Security or Medicare.
Also, although it may be tempting, do not let friends borrow your card.
- Free does not mean free.
If someone calls you with an offer for a free medical service in exchange for your information, politely decline.
Giving out your Medicare number in exchange for a "free service" is never necessary.
- Do not accept medical supplies, equipment or services that you do not need.
Even if you think a diabetes monitor may come in handy down the road, do not accept it.