Medicare Fraud
Medicare fraud can occur when someone steals your Medicare number to obtain medical care, buy medication, or submit fake bills to Medicare in your name. Here are some ways that you can stop Medicare fraud:
- Guard your Medicare and Social Security numbers.
- Only give your Medicare number to your physician or other approved Medicare providers.
- Hang up the phone on telemarketers who pretend to be from Medicare or to be conducting a health care survey and request your Medicare or Social Security Number.
- Be suspicious of offers for free medical service in exchange for your Medicare number; if it is free, they don't need your Medicare number.
- Review your Medicare statements to make sure that your account was not billed for services you did not receive. Report questionable charges to Medicare at 1-800-633-4227.
- For more tips on preventing Medicare fraud, visit www.stopmedicarefraud.gov.
If you suspect that you may have been the victim of Medicare fraud, contact the Inspector General at 1-800-447-8477 or by email at HHSTips@oig.hhs.gov.
Source: 2012 Consumer Action Handbook
www.ConsumerAction.gov
