Fraud Alert - Illinois Senior Medicare Patrol
January 25th, 2021
Illinois Attorney General Warns
of COVID-19 Vaccine Scams
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul has urged seniors to be aware of COVID-19 scams as the state rolls out its vaccination distribution throughout the state. As the distribution of the vaccine starts into the next phase, Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike stated that there is a limited amount of the vaccine in Illinois and throughout the United States.

Illinois Residents will be able to receive the vaccine only through a designated health clinic. No one can pay to put their names on a distribution list or purchase early access to the vaccine. Please be aware as older adults above the age of 65 will be able to get the vaccine before most people in the general public in the coming months. Please remember that Medicare will not call you to offer the COVID-19 vaccine.

You can read the consumer alert from the State of Illinois here.

If you or someone you know has a been a victim of a potential COVID-19 scam, please call the Illinois SMP Hotline at (800)699-9043.
Illinois Older Adults Will Be Able to Get
COVID-19 Vaccine Starting on
January 25th, 2021
Last week Governor J.B. Prtizker announced that Illinois will be entering phase 1B of their COVID-19 vaccination plan on January 25, 2021. This phase allows frontline essential workers and residents age 65 and over to get vaccinated. This is great news for older adults, as older adults are one of the most vulnerable populations during the pandemic.

The Illinois Department on Aging (IDOA) suggests that you reach out to your regional and local health departments about how to receive your vaccine. You can find all your regional and local health departments here.

You can find more information on the COVID-19 vaccines here or on the IDOA COVID-19 website, including the flyer below.

If you or someone you know has a been a victim of a potential COVID-19 scam, please call the Illinois SMP Hotline at (800)699-9043.
Upcoming AgeOptions SMP Outreach
Proviso Township
Types of Medicare Fraud
January 21st, 2021 at 11:30 am
Learn about the different types of Medicare fraud and what to look out for.
Phone: 312-626-6799 Meeting ID: 92279079383#


Proviso Township
Tips to Prevent Medicare Fraud
January 28th, 2021 at 11:30 am
Learn ways to protect yourself from Medicare Fraud. 
Phone: 312-626-6799 Meeting ID: 92279079383#


Village of Niles Senior Center
SMP Basics 
February 1st, 2021 at 10:30 am
Understand how the program works.
Phone: 312-626-6799 Meeting ID: 95531203966#  


Village of Niles Senior Center
How to Read Your Medicare Summary Notice
February 8th, 2021 at 10:30 am
Learn how to read your Summary Notice.
Phone: 312-626-6799 Meeting ID: 95531203966#


Brookfield Public Library
SMP Basics
February 2nd, 2021 at 11:00 am 
Understand how the program works. 
Phone: 312-626-6799 Meeting ID: 95531203966#


Proviso Township
Spanish SMP Basics
2 de Febrero a la 11:30 am
Conceptos Basicos del Programa
Phone: 312-626-6799 Meeting ID: 9403 285 9841#


Mather Informational Calls
Spanish SMP Basics
4 de Febrero a las 4:00 pm
Conceptos Basicos del Programa
Telefono:(855)-880-1246 Clave: 386 399 7030#


Mather Informational Calls
SMP Basics
February 8th, 2021 at 9:30 am
Learn more about Senior Medicare Patrol and what you can do to protect, detect and report Medicare fraud. 
Phone number to call: (855) 880 1246 Meeting ID: 386 399 7030# 
Have a safe and healthy week!

Travis Trumitch
travis.trumitch@ageoptions.org
Please share this Fraud Alert with colleagues, consumers, or other professionals in your area. If you would like to sign up to receive the Fraud Alert directly, visit click here.

This project was supported, in part by grant number 90MPPG0036, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official Administration for Community Living policy.
The Illinois SMP at AgeOptions partners with agencies across the state to empower and assist Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers to prevent, detect, and report health care fraud, errors, and abuse through outreach, counseling, and education.

Please share this Fraud Alert with colleagues, consumers, or other professionals in your area and visit our website to sign up for our Fraud Alert email list.