
How to Detect Medicare Fraud and
Make Up to $1000 Doing It—The 4 Easiest Ways
Medicare fraud is out of control. Experts estimate that anywhere from $50 billion to $180 billion is lost due to Medicare fraud. I’m talking every year! This is astounding. If the experts reporting $180 billion are right, this would account for 30% of Medicare’s total yearly expenses. Imagine what that loss has done to your tax rates!
Given the sheer magnitude of this issue, the government is at a loss for how to handle it. That is why they are looking to you for help. In fact, they are willing to pay you for it…up to $1000 or 10% of the payments recovered (whatever is lower). You qualify for this reward as long as:
- You report it with a specific accusation
- Your claim is approved as potential fraud by Medicare
- The organization or person you are reporting isn’t already under investigation
- Your report leads to at least a $100 recovery of Medicare funds
But before you can call 1-800-MEDICARE or go online to report fraud, you first have to know how to recognize it. So—to help you out—I compiled a list of the easiest ways to beef up your sleuthing skills and detect Medicare fraud.
1. Look Over Your Billing Statements
Fraudsters thrive on inattention. They expect that you won’t check you Medicare Summary Notice or your Explanation of Benefits, and they get away with millions because of it. So scour these documents for inaccuracies. Check for care or medical supplies you didn’t receive or things that were billed twice. You’ll have them shaking in their boots.
2. Ask Questions
It’s been drilled into your head since you were young. If you don’t understand something, just ask! The same goes for Medicare fraud. If you notice something on your bill that you didn’t receive, if you feel as if you received care that wasn’t necessary, or you are just confused, ask your doctor or provider. You don’t want to falsely report your family doctor for fraud, but you also don’t want to let him get away with it if he is guilty. So just ask. If he is innocent, he will provide a clear explanation. If not, maybe you should report him.
3. Be Suspicious of Door-to-door and Over-the-phone Scams
If someone shows up on your doorstep and claims to a representative of Medicare, just slam the door. If you pick up the phone and someone asks for your Medicare number as a part of a “health survey,” hang up. It’s a scam. And these are only two of many! There is a reason why these people are called con artists. They get creative when it comes to fraud. So, as a rule of thumb, if they ask for personal information, it’s probably fraud. And if they claim to be a Medicare representative and ask for your Medicare number, it definitely is. Medicare already has your number; they are the ones that gave it to you!
4. Educate Yourself
This is another principle you’ve been taught since you were young: Knowledge is power. Educating yourself about Medicare fraud (and about Medicare in general) is the single best way to detect Medicare fraud. When you know your enemy, you know the way they operate. You know their common ploys. When you know how Medicare works, you can better recognize when people are exploiting it.
And when you can recognize when people are exploiting it, you are one step closer to being $1000 richer.
Paying too much for your Medicare Supplement Insurance? Call Seniormark at 937-492-8800 to find out how you can save money without reducing your coverage!
Photo source: WRCBtv