Happy New Year! The Missouri SMP (Senior Medicare Patrol) wants to remind you that the alpha-numeric number on the new Medicare card is required for providers to process claims beginning January 1. If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, you should present that card to the
provider.
If you have not already done so, please destroy your old Medicare card, the one that contains your Social Security number. The federal government replaced the old cards to protect you from identity theft by removing the Social Security number. Of course, scam artists are likely to use the switchover to try to get you to give your old or new number to them so that they can commit Medicare fraud.
Don’t give out any personal information – including bank account, credit cards, Social Security card numbers or Medicare numbers – to anyone you do not know. That includes someone who phones you claiming to be with your bank, Medicare, Social Security or the IRS. Federal government agencies generally don’t phone you, and they already know the information. The IRS also won’t call or email you, especially with threats to arrest you.
If you have lost your new Medicare card, you may print a new one online by making an account at myMedicare.gov. Your area agency on aging has someone who can walk you through this process if you need help. Again, do not let any strangers have access to this account.
As always, report suspected Medicare fraud to the Missouri SMP at 1-888-515-6565.
This project was supported, in part by grant number 90MPPG0040, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official Administration for Community Living policy.
Every month Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) provides Aging Ahead with a Fraud Fact article. In fact these articles help older adults detect, protect and report medicare scams and fraud.
If you suspect Medicare fraud, errors or abuse, call the SMP hotline at 1-888-515-6565. Want to volunteer on Aging Ahead’s SMP team, give Katie Stacy a call at (636) 493-6380 for more information.