Medicare is a program that provides health insurance to people aged 65 and over, and those with certain disabilities. It’s one of the largest government programs in the world, with a budget of almost $600 billion in 2016. And like any large organization, Medicare faces occasional cases of fraud and corruption – which can result in taxpayers footing the bill for improper or fraudulent claims. Here are three ways to help protect yourself and your Medicare dollars from fraud.
Don’t fall for scams
Medicare fraud is a serious problem, and it’s easy to fall victim to scammers. Here are some tips to help you avoid becoming a victim:
1. Don’t fall for scams that promise free health care or free pills. These schemes are designed to take your money, and they won’t provide the benefits that they claim.
2. Don’t give out personal information, like your Social Security number or bank account number. Scammers will use this information to steal your money or identity.
3. Never pay for services that you don’t need or that you haven’t been promised. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
4. Use caution when clicking on links in emails or online ads. Many of these links may lead you to fraudulent websites.
By following these tips, you can avoid becoming a victim of Medicare fraud.
Check your eligibility
One of the most important ways to avoid Medicare fraud is to check your eligibility. You can do this by using a few simple tools, such as the Medicare.gov website.
You can also contact the Medicare call center to get help verifying your eligibility. The call center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Eastern Time. They can help you answer any questions you have about your Medicare coverage and help you find any errors in your coverage.
If you suspect that someone is committing Medicare fraud, report it to the authorities. You can report Medicare fraud online or by calling the Fraud Hotline at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
Know your rights
Medicare is a government program that provides health insurance for people aged 65 and over and people with disabilities. It is one of the most important programs in the United States, providing health care for over 50 million people.
To be eligible for Medicare, you must have been born in or before 1959, have been a U.S. citizen for at least five years, and be able to prove you are unable to work because of a medical condition. Once you are enrolled in Medicare, you have the right to receive coverage for all of your medical expenses.
One of the most common ways people try to cheat on Medicare is by fraudulently claiming they are disabled. This means they falsify documents to show they are unable to work or take care of themselves. They may also claim to have expensive medical conditions that require a lot of attention from doctors.
If you think someone is trying to fraudulently claim disability benefits on your behalf, it is important to know your rights. You can contact your local Medicare office to find out more about your specific situation. You can also call the federal government’s toll-free fraud hotline (1-800-742-9243) to get help protecting yourself from fraudsters