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Medical costs can escalate quickly after you retire, making access to affordable Medicare health care an essential part of your retirement plan. Unfortunately, scammers often target Medicare patients.
Without knowing the most common scams, it's easy to become a victim. Here are some common Medicare schemes that could throw a wrench in your retirement plans.
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A call telling you to get a new Medicare card
If you ever receive an unexpected call from someone purporting to be a Medicare "agent," it's almost certainly a scammer.
Real Medicare representatives will only call you if you've asked them to call you back. So, if someone calls to say you're required to get a new Medicare card, don't believe them.
Phony billing for diabetes services
Some scammers get their money by using real patients' information to bill Medicare for services that haven't actually been provided, such as diabetes-related treatment.
Carefully check the Medicare summary notices you receive to make sure there aren't any charges for treatments you haven't received. If you find a discrepancy, report the charge.
A notice of canceled benefits
In a few situations, your Medicare benefits can be canceled. For instance, if you haven't paid the premiums, you could end up losing coverage.
But a Medicare agent will never call you to demand you make a payment immediately to avoid losing insurance. So, beware if you get a call stating you need to disclose personal information like your Social Security number, or demanding you make an immediate payment over the phone.
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A promise of Medicare 'freebies'
It might be difficult to see how being offered a "free" product or service is a potential Medicare scam. However, the scammer's goal is often to get your Medicare number, which they can use to steal taxpayer funds through false Medicare claims.
Don't trust anyone who calls to say your Medicare plan makes you eligible for a free product. Also, avoid giving your Medicare number to anyone apart from your health care providers.
An offer of 'new' coverage
Do you pay for a Medicare Advantage plan instead of using Original Medicare? If so, you could be vulnerable to scammers contacting you about supposedly "new" plans or "cheaper" options.
These callers could request personal information like your Social Security or Medicare number, and they may even ask you to make an immediate payment to begin your "new" coverage.
A claim that you are eligible for free genetic testing
Medicare doesn't usually cover genetic testing. So, if you're ever approached by someone asking for your Medicare number in exchange for a "covered" genetic test, don't believe the offer.
Promises of rebates and refunds
If you qualify for a rebate or refund on a product or service through Medicare, your health care professional will notify you directly.
So, hang up if you get a call from a stranger asking for personal information — including bank account information — in order to refund you for an expense.
Offers of free equipment
Scammers may use the promise of free equipment to convince you to hand over your Medicare number. They might also ask for your credit card number, even though the equipment they're offering you is supposedly free.
If you really are eligible for discounted or even free equipment through Medicare coverage, your health care provider will let you know. Distrust any offers that come from a stranger over the phone.
High bills for telehealth services
Unfortunately, some telehealth providers may offer you subpar service while intentionally overcharging you. In some cases, they might misrepresent certain costs or charge Medicare for visits you never scheduled.
If you're consistently surprised by high bills while receiving low-quality telehealth services, you might have fallen prey to one of these types of scammers.
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Incorrect billing at a hospice
As with telehealth fraud, hospice fraud usually involves a health care practice that intentionally offers subpar services while overcharging Medicare patients or billing them incorrectly.
Hospice fraud can also involve accepting patients who don't actually qualify for hospice, then billing Medicare for the charge anyway.
Other inaccurate bills
Untrustworthy health care providers beyond hospices and telehealth services might also attempt to overcharge you for medical care.
These providers sometimes charge for a service that wasn't performed, bill for a more expensive procedure than the one you actually received, or charge in advance for a service you haven't yet scheduled.
How to avoid Medicare scams
Perhaps the best way to avoid Medicare scams is by keeping your Medicare number to yourself. Don't trust anyone who asks for the number over the phone, especially someone who claims to need your number to offer you free products or services.
Keeping your Medicare card in a safe place at home is another way to make sure your information doesn't fall into the wrong hands.
You can also detect scams by paying close attention to the summary statements you receive from Medicare. If you find charges for services you haven't received or products you didn't order, get in touch with the Medicare office so it can initiate a fraud investigation.
Bottom line
Protecting yourself from Medicare scams can help you make the right moves and go a long way toward securing a stress-free retirement.
However, if you ever do fall for a scam, protect yourself by immediately freezing your credit and reporting the scam at the official Medicare website.
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