You Can Help Stop Medicare Fraud

||| BY LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER |||

Health insurance fraud costs an estimated $60 billion each year and ultimately increases the cost of health care for everyone. June 3-9 is National Medicare Fraud Prevention Week to draw attention to this problem.

As a Medicare beneficiary, you can protect yourself by following these fraud prevention tips:

• Never give out your personal information such as your Social Security, Medicare, bank account, or credit card numbers over the phone, in a text or email, or in person unless you initiated contact. Medicare will never contact you for your Medicare number or other personal information.
• Read your Medicare Summary Notice to make sure you received all the services, supplies, or equipment listed.
• Be sure to purchase medical insurance from a licensed agent. To see if they are licensed in Washington State, go to www.insurance.wa.gov.

Sponsored by Orcas Senior Center, Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) program volunteers work to empower and help Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers prevent, detect, and report health insurance fraud, errors, and abuse. health care through awareness, counseling and education. If you have questions or suspect fraud or abuse, call your Orcas Island SHIBA volunteers at 360-376-5892 or visit www.insurance.wa.gov/medicare.