Lumaktaw sa pangunahing content

Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft


How can I protect myself from identity theft?

Identity theft happens when someone uses your personal information without your consent to commit fraud or other crimes. Personal information includes things like your name and your Social Security, Medicare, credit card or bank account numbers, and your Medicare.gov user name and password. Guard your cards and protect your Medicare and Social Security Numbers. Keep this information safe.

Only give personal information, like your Medicare Number, to doctors, insurers or plans acting on your behalf and/ or trusted people in the community who work with Medicare like your State Health Insurance Program (SHIP). Don't share your Medicare Number or other personal information with anyone who contacts you by phone, email, or in person. Medicare, or someone representing Medicare, will only call you in limited situations:
  • Medicare health or drug plan can call if you're already a member of the plan. The agent who helped you join can also call.
  • A customer service representative from 1-800-MEDICARE can call you if you've called and left a message, or a representative said that someone would call you back. If you suspect identity theft or feel like you gave your personal information to someone you shouldn't have, call your local police department and the Federal Trae Commission's ID Theft hotline at 1-877-438-4338. TTY users can call 1-866-653-4261. Visit ftc.gob/idtheft to learn more.

How can I protect myself from fraud and medical identity theft?

Medical fraud and medical identity theft can cost taxpayers billions of dollars each year. Medical identity theft is when someone steals or uses your personal information to submit fraudulent claims to Medicare and other health insurers without your permission. When you get health care services, record the dates on a calendar and save the receipts and statements you get from providers to check for mistakes. If you think you see an error or are billed for services you didn't get, take these steps to find out what was billed:

  • Check your "Medicare Summary Notice" (MSN) if you have Original Medicare to see if the service was billed to Medicare. If you're in a Medicare health plan, check the statements you get from your plan.
  • If you know the health care provider or supplier, call and ask for an itemized statement. They should give this to you within 30 days.
  • Visit MyMedicare.gov to view your Medicare claims if you have Original Medicare. Your claims are generally available online within 24 hours after processing. You can also download your claims information by suing Medicare's Blue Button.

If you've contacted the provider and you suspect that Medicare is being charged for a service that you didn't get, or you don't know the provider on the claim, call 1-800-MEDICARE.

Visit Medicare.gov, or contact your local Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) for more information.
For information about the SMP program, visit smpresources.org or call 1-877-808-2468.
You can also visit oig.hhs.gov or call the fraud hotline of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477). 







Mga etiketa:

Mga Komento

Mag-post ng isang Komento

Mga sikat na post sa blog na ito

Durable Medical Equipment and Medicare

Medicare   Part B  covers the D urable Medical Equipment (DME).   These are equipment that serves a medical purpose, able to withstand repeated use, and is appropriate for use in at home.  There are many important things to know about Medicare’s coverage for DME. Below are pieces of information that will help you know whether/how you are covered. Eligible equipment Medicare’s DME benefit does not cover all medical equipment.  Medicare only covers DME if your  provider  says it is  medically necessary for use in the home . You also must order your DME from suppliers who contract with  Original Medicare  or your  Medicare Advantage  Plan . However, Medicare Advantage Plans may have additional requirements you need to meet before your DME is covered. DME coverage Depending on what type of equipment you need, Medicare will require that you either rent or buy DME. There are also special rules when you need oxygen equipment...
Mag-post ng isang Komento
Magbasa nang higit pa

Medicare and Hospital Discharged Planning

Hospital  discharge  planning is a process that determines what kind of care you will need after you leave the hospital. This discharge plans can help prevent future readmissions , and they should make your move from the hospital to your home or another facility as safe as possible. Medicare  requires hospitals to screen  inpatients  and provide discharge p lanning for those who need it. But this  is only mandatory for hospital inpatients, if you are an  outpatient, possibly  on  observation status,   Medicare will not require screening or discharge planning. However, there are some states that provide outpatients with rights to discharge planning services. For more information on discharge planning in your state, please contact your  State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) . Your  discharge plan  should include information about where you will be discharged to, the types of care you need, and who will provi...
Mag-post ng isang Komento
Magbasa nang higit pa

The Doughnut Hole

What is a Doughnut Hole? The  Medicare  Part D donut hole  is a temporary coverage gap in how much a  Medicare  prescription drug plan will pay for your prescription drug costs. Starting in  2020 ,  Medicare  Part D plan beneficiaries pay 25 percent of their brand name and generic drug costs while they're in the coverage gap. How does the donut hole work? The donut hole closed for all drugs in 2020, meaning that when you enter the coverage gap you will be responsible for 25% of the cost of your drugs. In the past, you were responsible for a higher percentage of the cost of your drugs. Although the donut hole has closed, you may still see a difference in cost between the initial coverage period and the donut hole. For example, if a drug’s total cost is $200 and you pay your plan’s $40 copay during the initial coverage period, you will be responsible for paying $25 (25% of $200) during the coverage gap. How do I get out of the ...
Mag-post ng isang Komento
Magbasa nang higit pa