National Report Medicare Fraud Day

September 12 is National Report Medicare Fraud Day, a reminder that Medicare fraud is not a victimless crime. It drives up costs for the entire healthcare system and puts patients at risk when providers bill for care that was never given or was not needed. Estimates suggest as much as ten percent of all Medicare spending is lost to fraud each year.

Common Warning Signs

Scammers often pose as Medicare or health plan representatives, contacting people by phone, text, or email to "verify" their Medicare number, Social Security number, or bank details. Others advertise "free" genetic tests, lab work, or medical equipment, then use that information to bill Medicare for services that were never provided.

Protect Yourself and Your Family

Treat your Medicare card like a credit card: never share the number with an unsolicited caller, texter, or emailer. Medicare will not call you out of the blue to ask for your number or your banking information.

Review your Medicare statements regularly and flag any charge for a service, test, or piece of equipment you do not recognize. Even small unfamiliar charges are worth a second look, since scammers often start with minor billings to test whether anyone is paying attention.

If something looks off, report it to Medicare directly at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227, TTY 1-877-486-2048) or visit Medicare.gov for reporting resources.

Protecting your personal and financial information is something we take seriously every day, and we want our customers equipped to do the same.