You can help stop Medicare fraud

||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER |||

Medicare fraud costs an estimated $60 billion each year and ultimately raises the cost of healthcare for everyone. June 3-9 is National Medicare Fraud Prevention Week to call attention to the issue. 

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’ve initiated the contact. Medicare will never contact you for your Medicare number or other personal information.
• Read your Medicare Summary Notice to be sure you received all the services, supplies, or equipment listed.
• Make sure you buy medical insurance from a licensed agent. To see if they’re 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 assist Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers to prevent, detect, and report health care fraud, errors, and abuse through outreach, 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.