Medicare fraud hurts all of us with higher costs, higher taxes, and, since those who deliberately defraud Medicare are criminals who prey on people in need of medical help, the increased likelihood that the patients themselves may not be receiving the treatment or services they need.

Medicare fraud results in the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars each year, and patients and families are the first line of defense when it comes to preventing Medicare fraud. One of the ways to do this is to look over your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) when you get it to make sure you know what all the items and services listed are and determine whether or not you actually received everything listed.

If you do not understand the statement or do not think you received something on the list, call the doctor's office and have it explained to you. If you do not receive a satisfactory answer, you can then call the company that paid your Medicare claim. Their contact information will be listed on your MSN and they have a vested interest in helping you prevent Medicare fraud. If you believe someone has committed Medicare fraud and do not have the MSN, you can call the hotline at 1-800-447-8477

You can also help prevent Medicare fraud before it happens by being a smart consumer. For example, be more than suspicious of any provider who claims to be endorsed by Medicare or the government...particularly if they claim to represent Medicare or initiate contact with you via telemarketing or as a door-to-door salesmen.

Giving your Medicare Health Insurance Claim Number or Medicare card to a provider who claims that "Medicare doesn't usually cover this, but we know how to get them to pay for it" is asking for trouble, as is dealing with providers who claim that "Medicare wants you to have this". Medicare is an insurance program - what insurance company have you ever heard of that wants to pay for more than they absolutely have to?

Also, you should not give your card or number to any provider who says they will do something for you for free and all you need to do is give them your Medicare number. You can bet they will bill Medicare for something...and you probably will not have received it.

Medicare fraud is an ongoing problem and you can help stop it.