ALERTS-SCAMS-MEDICARE-SENIOR CITIZENS!

*As Senior Citizens, we are all the potential victims of the large army of con men, and scam artists, and other shady operators who are looking for an opportunity to prey upon us, because we have in past proven ourselves to be too naive, too trusting, and/or too reluctant to report our losses to the proper authorities, but that does not have to continue to be the case if we simply take a few reasonable precautions, including at least some of which I have listed here...in no particular order.

1. Be suspicious if a supposed health care provider tells you that:
a. This test is free, and that he only needs your Medicare number for his records.
b. Medicare wants you to have this item or service.
c. They know how to get Medicare to pay for it.
d. The more tests that they provide the cheaper they are.
e. The equipment or service is free; it won't cost you anything.

2. Be suspicious of providers that:
a. Routinely waive co-payments without checking on your ability to pay.
b. Advertise "free" consultations to Medicare beneficiaries.
c. Claim they represent Medicare.
d. Use pressure or scare tactics to sell you high priced diagnostic tests and/or other medical services.
e. Bill Medicare for services you do not recall receiving.
f. Use telemarketing and door-to-door selling as marketing tools.

3. NEVER give your Medicare/Medicaid or Social Security number over the telephone or to people you don’t know.

4. NEVER allow anyone to convince you to contact your physician requesting a service you don’t need.

5. NEVER give your Medicare or Medicaid number to anyone for a free service. They don’t need your Medicare or Medicaid number if the service is truly free.

6. NEVER accept medical supplies or equipment from a door-do-door salesperson. Neither the Federal Government nor Medicare sell supplies or equipment door-to-door.

7. NEVER believe anyone who says they are from Medicare or any Federal agency while trying to sell you products or services. Neither the Federal Government nor Medicare endorses the products or services of any individual or company.

8. ALWAYS rely on your personal physician to recommend all medical services and equipment for you.

9. KEEP a record of your health care appointments and services.

10. READ your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) carefully. Look for:
a. Duplicate payments for the same service.

b. Dates of service on the MSN that differs from the dates you actually received the service.

c. Items or services you do not recall receiving.

d. Billings for medical equipment or services that were not ordered by a physician.
10. CONTACT your health care provider, supplemental insurance company and/or carrier if you have questions about services listed on your MSN.

Note: Additional information on this a related subjects may be obtained by contacting the U.S. Administration on Aging by telephone at 1-202-619-0724 and/or by email at aoainfo@aoa.hhs.gov and or by connecting to their website at www.aoa.gov/about/contact .