|
InterView Magazine
|
||
 Older adults are frequent targets of Medicare-related scams. Inter Valley Health Plan encourages you to be wary of “deals too good to be true.” Always protect your Medicare number. Like your credit cards and bank accounts, your Medicare number is personal and should not be given to strangers. Before you reveal any personal information or sign a contract, confirm that the company is legitimate. Medicare has a list of approved companies making it easy to confirm that the com pany and coverage you choose is legitimate before you sign up or reveal financial information. You can find the list at www.Medicare.gov. Here are ten tips to help you—or a loved one—avoid being taken advantage of by a Medicare scam.  of health care providers that seek co-payments on clinical lab tests or Medicare-covered preventive services such as PAP smears, PSA tests or flu/pneumonia shots.  to people who use pressure or use scare tactics to sell you high-priced medical services or diagnostic tests; always check with your regular doctor.  and/or door-to-door techniques to sell you services or items they say you need. These scams are particularly targeted at people with arthritis, diabetes or sleep problems.  sales people who say they're from Medicare. The organization doesn't—call or visit—enrollees to sell anything.  your Medicare Health Insurer Claim Number (on your card) except to your physician or other Medicare provider. Guard your Claim Number with the same care you use to protect your credit card or Social Security number. Don't carry it with you unless you need it. If someone tells you an item is free—but that they just need your Medicare number for their records, don't believe them.  anyone—except the appropriate medical professionals— to review your medical records or recommend any services.  for three strange itemizations on your billing statement: Charges for something you didn't get. Billing twice for the same thing. Services not ordered by your doctor.
 questions of your provider if you don't understand the billed charges, if you don't think you received the service or that the service might not have been necessary.  your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) and Part D Explanation to understand your benefits.  of a provider or sales person who says that they know “how to bill services to get them paid” even though Medicare normally won’t cover the services.
or our Fraud Alert Hotline: 1-888-FRAUDALERT (1-888-372-8325) Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 220, La Verne, CA. 91750 Online: www.1888FRAUDALERT.COM CODE: ALERT110 Hotline and Website Available 24 hours a day – 7 days a week |
|
InterView
Magazine click here for additional articles> |