Remember ME - You Me and Dementia

October 9, 2005

USA: Medicare Warns Seniors About Scams

NEW YORK CITY, NEWSDAY, October 9, 2005: More than a month before seniors will begin signing up for the new Medicare prescription drug benefit, two schemes to defraud them have been discovered, according to the head of Medicare services. Dr. Mark McClellan, head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said investigations are under way in Illinois and West Virginia after police received reports that seniors were approached by people claiming to represent Medicare and asking for personal financial information. McClellan said the schemes appeared to have affected few individuals but he cautioned seniors to be wary of aggressive or dishonest marketers. Forty-six Medicare-approved prescription drug plans are being offered in New York. Health insurance companies began marketing plans last week, however, seniors cannot begin signing up before Nov. 15. Coverage begins Jan. 1, 2006. "Unfortunately, it's long been the case that seniors are the number one targets of consumer fraud," he said Friday. McClellan said the center has established controls to help prevent or catch would-be scammers. It has contracts with eight organizations called Medicare Rx Integrity Contractors, or MEDICS, that look for fraud or abuse and conduct investigations. Medicare officials also are alerting government and consumer agencies to potential problems, McClellan said. Medicare advises seniors: * No one can come to your door uninvited. * No one can ask you to enroll before Nov. 15. * No one can ask you for personal information during their marketing activities. * Protect your Medicare number just as you would a credit card or bank account number. * Never give out personal information unless you are certain the person or plan is approved by Medicare. * If you suspect fraud, you also can call the police or the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. BY RIDGELY OCHS Copyright 2005 Newsday Inc.

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