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Senior Alert
Seniors Alerted to Scam Offering to Help Enroll in
Medicare Part D
CMS warns of new '$299 Ring' using phone to get
bank information
March 7, 2006 If senior citizens don't have
enough problems sorting out the Medicare prescription drug program, now
they have to be alert to the possibility of being scammed by crooks that
offer to help them enroll in the new Medicare Part D, but are really
after money and checking account information.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
warns seniors and people with disabilities to be aware of a scheme that
asks Medicare beneficiaries for money and checking account information
to help them enroll in a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.
This scheme is called the $299 Ring for the
typical amount of money Medicare beneficiaries are talked into
withdrawing from their checking accounts to pay for a non-existent
prescription drug plan.
Seniors are particularly susceptible to the offer
of help, due to the complicated program and many choices.
Consumers can report these cases to their local law
enforcement agencies or 1-877-7SAFERX (1-877-772-3379).
Medicare has received complaints from Indiana,
Michigan, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts New Jersey and Georgia.
Complaints have been made against a number of
different companies, but authorities believe that the companies are the
same and are typically based outside the U. S. As soon as CMS receives
these complaints, they are investigated and referred to federal law
enforcement authorities.
No Medicare drug plan can ask a person with
Medicare for bank account or other personal information over the
telephone. No beneficiary should ever provide that kind of information
to a caller.
They should contact their local police department
if they believe someone is trying to take money or information from them
illegally.
People with Medicare should also remember that they
should be on the lookout for anyone trying to take advantage of them and
take steps to protect themselves by remembering:
● No one can come into your home uninvited.
● No one can ask you for personal information during their marketing
activities.
● Always keep all personal information, such as your Medicare number,
safe, just as you would a credit card or a bank account number.
● Whenever you have a question or concern about any activity regarding
Medicare, call 1-800-MEDICARE.
In addition, legitimate Medicare drug plans will
not ask for payment over the telephone or the Internet.
They must bill the beneficiary for the monthly
premium. Typically, that amount is set up as an automatic withdrawal
from the beneficiarys monthly Social Security check. Beneficiaries may
also opt to pay the monthly premiums in other ways such as writing a
check or setting up automatic payments from their checking accounts.
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