Protect Yourself Against Health Care Fraud

Fraud Tips:

· Never give your Medicare or Medicaid number over the telephone or to people you do not know.

· Beware of health care providers and suppliers that use telephone calls and door-to-door selling as a way to sell you goods or services.

· Be suspicious of companies that offer free medical equipment or offer to waive your co-payment without first asking about your ability to pay.

· Beware of health care providers who say they represent Medicare or a branch of the Federal government, or providers who use pressure tactics to get you to accept a service or product.

You should be suspicious if a provider tells you that:

· The test is free; he only needs your Medicare number for his records.

· Medicare wants you to have the item or service.

· They know how to get Medicare to pay for it.

· The more tests they provide, the cheaper they are.

· The equipment or service is free; it won't cost you anything.

Be suspicious of:

· Home health providers that offer non-medical transportation services or housekeeping as Medicare approved services.

· Ambulance companies that bill Medicare for non-emergency trips.

· Suppliers that bill Medicare for medical equipment for beneficiaries in a nursing home.

· Physicians that give the wrong diagnosis on the claim form so Medicare will pay.