There’s no doubt about it, Medicare fraud can be a scary situation. Scam artists rip off consumers every day, causing Medicare and Medicaid to lose millions of dollars each year. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be stopped. There are many ways consumers can protect themselves against Medicare fraud, errors, and abuse. Through protection, detection, and reporting, you can ensure your healthcare benefits remain safe. Learning how to prevent fraud can decrease your risk dramatically. Prevention can be easy. Just as though you would not give out your credit card number, never give your Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security numbers to a stranger. Only carry your Medicare or Medicaid card when necessary, such as when visiting the doctor, hospital, or pharmacy. Always record doctor visits, tests, and procedures in a personal health care journal or calendar so you may refer to it later. Save Medicare Summary Notices and Part D Explanation of Benefits and shred them when they are no longer useful. Lastly, Medicare doesn’t call or visit to sell you anything. If such a thing occurs, it’s a scam. Unfortunately, completing these preventative steps doesn’t completely eliminate risk. Learning how to detect fraud is just as important as prevention. Always review your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) and Part D Explanation of Benefits (EOB) for mistakes. Current Medicare accounts can be accessed anytime by visiting MyMedicare.gov. When reviewing your MSN and EOB, compare them to your personal health journal and prescription drug receipts to check for errors. When reviewing your billing statement, always look for suspicious charges. This might be a charge for something you didn’t receive, billing for the same thing twice, or services that were not ordered by your doctor. If you suspect any fraud, error, or abuse, report it immediately! Not only will you save your benefits, but you will protect others from becoming victims. Call your provider or plan first if you have questions about information on your MSN or EOB. If you are uncomfortable calling your provider or are unsatisfied with the response they provide, call your local SPM at 1-877-808-2468. If you have any questions or would like assistance, you can always call the CVAA Senior Helpline at 1-800-642-5119.
Posted on: Wed, 11 Jun 2014 15:47:55 +0000
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