Medicare Scam Alert

The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) warns Medicare enrollees of a rising scam targeting their sensitive information. Scammers are luring individuals with offers of free services, medical equipment, or gift cards in exchange for Medicare numbers, enabling fraudulent activities.

Renee Labrie-Shanks, director of the Statewide Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) Program at MAS, urges vigilance, “If someone offers free medical equipment and asks for your Medicare number, it’s a red flag. Hang up immediately.” Your personal information, once compromised, can fuel other fraudulent schemes.

Protect yourself: scrutinize Medicare Summary Notices or Medicare Advantage EOB’s carefully. “You’re the frontline defense against fraud,” Labrie-Shanks emphasizes. “Medicare processes millions of claims daily, but only you can spot discrepancies.”

Remember: never share your Medicare number unless with your provider’s office. Unsolicited requests should raise suspicions. Your Medicare information is precious—guard it fiercely.