Surge in imposter scams targeting Medicare recipients

Aug. 14--Government imposter scams are surging, according to the Federal Trade Commission -- increasing by 97 percent in the second quarter this year, and Alabama Medicare recipients have been particularly vulnerable.

Medicare scams typically involve rogue health-care providers or medical suppliers who bill the program for services, equipment or medication that they don't actually provide, or else inflate the cost of those items.

The scams have historically involved durable medical equipment, like back braces, wheel chairs and the like. But lately, scammers are pulling off a new scam -- saying Medicare will pay for DNA testing. A telemarketer may tout "free" DNA testing to screen for cancer or to learn how your body may respond to certain medications. As with the medical equipment scam, all you need to do is share your Medicare number.

"These scams aren't only financially costly for individuals, they can also threaten your future medical coverage," Evey Owen, Interim associate state director of communications for AARP Alabama, said. "If shady operators obtain your Medicare number and bill the program for phony prescriptions or unnecessary medical equipment, you could be denied coverage later for drugs or devices you genuinely need."

While consumers should continually stay vigilant to guard against falling victim to scams, there are simple steps you can take to protect yourself from Medicare scams:

* Hang up immediately if you get an unsolicited call from someone who claims to be from Medicare and asks for personal information. Medicare employees will never call you without being invited to do so by you.

* Review your Medicare Summary Notices (MSN) or Explanation of Benefits (EOB) when they arrive. Look for services, procedures or devices you don't recognize -- if you see something on the statement that doesn't look right, report it to Medicare's toll-free number 800-633-4227.

* Never share your Medicare or Social Security number with anyone other than your trusted providers, doctors, or pharmacists.

* Report all scam calls to the Federal Trade Commission at FTCcomplaintAssistant.gov or your state attorney general's office.

___

(c)2019 The Cullman Times (Cullman, Ala.)

Visit The Cullman Times (Cullman, Ala.) at www.cullmantimes.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.