Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday is raising the alarm over a sneaky Medicare scam targeting the state’s seniors by shipping them medical gear they never asked for — all so scammers can fleece the government or the victims themselves.
The con involves shipping durable medical equipment, like wheelchairs and oxygen tanks, that were never prescribed by a doctor. Once the unrequested “gift” arrives, the crooks try to bill the patients or the state Medicare program for the pricey gear.
“We are seeing a growing number of instances where senior patients are receiving equipment so that scammers can collect a payout from the patient or the state Medicare program,” Sunday said in a press release. “Any and all attempts to defraud the Medicare program negatively impact those who rely on the program for their livelihood and wellbeing.”
The Pennsylvania Attorney General Office’s Health Care Section offer Pennsylvania seniors on Medicare the following tips:
Check your Medicare claims regularly. You can receive Medicare statements by mail or online. Review your statements regularly and report any suspicious claims to Medicare.
Report unsolicited medical items received through the mail. If you receive a package in the mail containing a medical device that you did not request, you can make a report to Medicare and alert the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General by filing a complaint with our Health Care Section.
Pause before you pay. If you receive a bill in the mail from a provider that you do not recognize, or for equipment that you did not discuss with your doctor, take steps to verify the bill is legitimate before paying. Your doctor’s office can verify the legitimacy of any bills. You have no obligation to pay for false or fraudulent bills.
Keep your personal information safe. Never give personal information such as your birthday, home address, Social Security Number, or Medicare ID Number to unknown callers over the phone.
Do not accept offers for services over the phone. During the fall season, you may receive more phone solicitations related to Open Enrollment offers. Never give any personal information or make any changes to your Medicare enrollment plan over the phone, even if the caller insists that they are from the government or if they say that there is an issue with your Medicare enrollment. You can always call Medicare directly to verify your enrollment.
Victims of a potential scam can report it to Medicare by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
If you receive unwanted devices or have questions about a bill’s validity, you can also hit up the Pennsylvania Attorney General Office’s Health Care Section at 877-888-4877 or put in a complaint online.
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