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Senior Citizens Cautioned to Protect Identity in
Medicare Drug Plan Offers
CMS offers tips for identifying companies associated
with Medicare program
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Companies
authorized by Medicare will display this logo. |
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Sept. 6, 2005 – Senior citizens, often the targets
of fraud, are being cautioned by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services to be especially careful in protecting their personal
information in dealing with those who claim to be representing companies
marketing the new Medicare prescription drug plans.
Following is the information provided by CMS.
Protect Yourself from Identity Theft and Fraud
Identity theft is a serious crime that happens when
someone uses your personal information without your consent to commit
fraud or other crimes. Your personal information can include your name;
Social Security, Medicare, bank account, or credit card numbers.
Medicare is working hard to protect you from identity theft. To help
protect yourself when dealing with plans and others about Medicare
prescription drug coverage:
>> Keep all personal information, such as your
Medicare number, safe.
>> Protect your Medicare number as you would
your credit card information.
>> Don’t give out your personal information
until you are sure that a person is working with Medicare and their
product is approved by Medicare. Know the rules about when someone can
ask for your personal information.
Here are some rules from Medicare to help protect
you:
Medicare Prescription Drug Plans...
>> can’t begin marketing their products until
October 1, 2005.
>> can’t begin enrolling people with Medicare
until November 15, 2005.
>> will have this “Medicare-Approved” seal on
their materials.
People who are really working with Medicare...
>> can’t come to your home uninvited to sell or
endorse any Medicare-related product, but they can call you about their
plan.
>> can’t enroll you into a drug plan or ask you
to pay for a drug plan over the telephone, unless you are adding
prescription drug coverage to a Medicare Advantage Plan or other
Medicare Health Plan you already have. Note: State Health Insurance
Assistance Programs and other local organizations may help you enroll
over the telephone.
>> can’t ask for payment over the web. The plan
must send you a bill if you enroll over the web.
Know the rules about when someone can ask for your
personal information.
Remember, Medicare doesn’t recommend one product
over another.
Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) if you aren’t
sure about Medicare’s rules or if any of these rules appear to be
broken. Don’t respond to anyone or any material that breaks Medicare
rules.
Know who you can trust. Most people are honest and
want to help you make health care decisions that are best for you. Only
give out your personal information to someone you trust or to a doctor
or supplier approved by Medicare. Also, make sure that you are present
when your personal information is used.
You can trust and get help from...
>> family and trusted friends,
>> senior centers and other local organizations
working with Medicare,
>> State Health Insurance Assistance Programs
(call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or visit www.medicare.gov on the
web to get the telephone number),
>> 1-800 MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) (TTY users
should call 1-877-486-2048), or
>> www.medicare.gov on the web.
If you think someone is misusing your personal
information, call...
>> 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) (TTY users
should call 1-877-486-2048), or
>> the Fraud Hotline of the HHS Office of the
Inspector General at 1-800-447-8477, or
>> the Federal Trade Commission’s ID Theft
hotline at 1-877-438-4338 to make a report (TTY users should call
1-866-653-4261).
Note: If you filled out an application for
extra help and there is missing information, someone from SSA may
contact you to ask for the missing information. They will only ask you
for the information that’s missing from the application.
If you feel like you are in danger for any reason,
call your local police department immediately.
If you lose your Medicare card or it’s stolen, or
if you need a new Social Security card, go to www.socialsecurity.gov on
the web or call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-325-0778.
TTY users should call 1-800-325-0778. If you get benefits from the
Railroad Retirement Board, call your local RRB office or 1-800-808-0772
or visit www.rrb.gov on the web.
For more information, about how to protect yourself
from identity theft, look at www.consumer.gov/idtheft on the web.
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