Medicare Fraud: No 1 in list of Top Ten Scams for Seniors

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Health Care fraud has been called the “the crime of the 21st Century,” according to the National Council on Aging - the non - profit that compiled a list of top crimes targeting seniors in 2012. If you are on Medicare, you may have already been contacted by fraudsters offering you “free” diabetic test strips, or “free” home care services.  

Anita Salustro, the head of Michigan’s Senior Medicare Patrol, urges everyone on Medicare to look at their Medicare Summary Notices.  “Make sure that Medicare paid for the care you received, on the day you received it, by the doctor who cared for you.”  A common scam is to bill Medicare for more expensive treatment.  

Medicare beneficiaries know that October 15 to December 7 is open enrollment season for changes to their Medicare benefits, including their prescription drug benefit.   They need to be extra vigilant about calls from marketers who want them to switch into a plan that may not be the best for them.  

“The Senior Medicare Patrol will help you make good choices during open enrollment,”  said Salustro.   “Call 1 800  803-7174 if you have questions about your Medicare benefit or suspect Medicare fraud.” 

The Senior Medicare Patrol is a statewide program of Michigan’s Medicare Medicaid Assistance Program, or MMAP, the free counseling service.   Seniors should be on guard for any health care fraud, including  Medicare billing.  Questions?  Call  800 803 – 7174.     Anita Salustro can be reached at 517 614-8388 or anita@mmapinc.org.

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