Medicare Urges Vigilance Against Fraud and Identity Theft

Medicare officials are urging beneficiaries to remain vigilant against fraud and abuse, emphasizing the importance of protecting personal information and regularly reviewing claims to prevent financial losses and medical identity theft.

To combat fraud, beneficiaries should compare services on their calendar with Medicare statements, ensuring accuracy. Creating a secure Medicare.gov account allows for early detection of discrepancies in Original Medicare claims.

Protecting personal details is crucial. Medicare advises against sharing Medicare or Social Security numbers with unauthorized individuals. Beneficiaries should be wary of unsolicited calls, as Medicare will not call to sell products or visit homes, only contacting individuals in specific, limited situations like returning a call or following up on reported fraud.

Suspected fraud can be reported by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). Those with Medicare Advantage or drug plans can also contact the Investigations Medicare Drug Integrity Contractor (I-MEDIC) at 1-877-7SAFERX (1-877-772-3379).