12 Tips to Protect Yourself from Health Care Fraud

These days, thieves are bolder than ever in their attempts to scam potential victims. The internet, mail, telephone, and face-to-face encounters can all provide the means and opportunity for fraud. Protect yourself:

1. See only your personal doctor, hospital or clinic for medical help. Only your primary care doctor should make referrals for special equipment, services or medicine.

2. Never, EVER show anyone your medical or prescription records without first talking to your doctor or pharmacist.

3. If someone should ever call and tries to threaten or force you into something - just hang up the phone immediately.

4. If someone comes to your door and says they are from Medicare or a health care company shut the door…It’s shrewd to be rude! Medicare is not going to send someone to your door.

5. Do your homework and talk to your health care provider before buying or investing in internet “cure-all” or “miracle” products or services. There are more scams than valid programs out there.

6. Don’t forget to get your mail and leave mail in your mailbox for more than one day. People can steal personal information right out of your mailbox.

7. Rip up or shred your Medicare or other health care papers and other important documents before throwing them away. Crooks go through the trash!

8. Treat your Medicare & Social Security numbers like credit cards. If someone offers to buy your Medicare or social security number, don’t do it…it’s simply not worth it and it should be reported to the authorities.

9. Remember that Medicare doesn’t sell anything, anytime.

10. Follow your instincts-if something seems too good to be true, it usually is!

11. If you suspect an error, fraud or abuse related to health care, gather the facts and report it promptly. You are helping to protect others as well as yourself from future scams.

12. ALWAYS read your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) or health care billing statement carefully. Your Medicare Summary Notice is the piece of mail stamped “This is Not a Bill” that comes in after you get medical care.

Look for three items on your billing statement:

• Charges for something you didn’t get
• Billing for the same product or service twice
• Charges for services that were not ordered by the Doctor

For More information visit National Consumer Protection Technical Resource Center