Medicare Fraud Prevention Week Teaches Everyone

How to Prevent Fraud

Fraud costs Medicare an estimated $60 billion per year. It costs Medicare beneficiaries in time, stress, their medical identities, and potentially their health. It costs families, friends, and caregivers in worry and lost work when helping their loved ones recover from falling victim to Medicare fraud.

“Medicare fraud has a devastating impact on both beneficiaries and the Medicare program,” said Travis Trumitch, Director of the Illinois Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP). “We teach people how to avoid experiencing Medicare fraud. By preventing fraud from happening, this program helps individuals and protects the Medicare program for generations to come.”

Learn how to protect yourself and your loved ones by joining the Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) and their partners for Medicare Fraud Prevention Week, held June 5-11, 2023. This observance starts on June 5, or “6-5,” because most people become eligible for Medicare when they turn 65 years old.

“We’re excited to teach people both about how to protect themselves from Medicare fraud and about the services that the Senior Medicare Patrol program offers. We hope that people will remember the numbers ‘6-5’ to help us celebrate Medicare Fraud Prevention Week,” said Jesus Enriquez, Illinois SMP Spanish Outreach Specialist.

Everyone plays a part in the fight against fraud. During Medicare Fraud Prevention Week:

·   Medicare beneficiaries can monitor their insurance statements to make sure products and services received match what is on the statements. They can request free My Health Care Trackers from their local SMP.

·   Caregivers can help by being on the lookout for items such as durable medical equipment (like boxes of knee braces) lying around the house that may have been shipped to the beneficiary without their or their doctor’s approval. They can remind their client or loved one to never give out their Medicare number or other personal information over the phone.

·   Families can help by talking to their loved ones about protecting their Medicare number just as they would a credit card number. They can help their loved ones create a Medicare.gov account to access their Medicare statements online or remind them to open and review them when they come in the mail. They can also register their phone number on “do not call” lists and go to optoutprescreen.com to opt out of mailings.

·   Partners and professionals can help by sharing SMP information on social media, referring clients and consumers to the SMP, and inviting the SMP to speak during a shared event.

·   Health care providers can help by talking to patients about health care-related scams such as those related to durable medical equipment and genetic testing schemes. They can remind them that products and services should only be ordered by physicians they regularly see. Needed medical items should never be ordered through TV ads or unsolicited calls.

·   Community members can help by looking out for older neighbors. When in public, they can be aware of older individuals purchasing gift cards in large amounts. They can encourage those they know to talk to a trusted source about their Medicare questions and tell neighbors about the most recent Medicare scams. They can even consider volunteering with the local SMP!

The Illinois Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) is ready to provide you with the information you need to PROTECT yourself from Medicare fraud, errors, and abuse; DETECT potential fraud, errors, and abuse; and REPORT your concerns. SMPs help educate and empower Medicare beneficiaries in the fight against health care fraud. Your SMP can help you with your questions, concerns, or complaints about potential fraud and abuse issues. It also provides information and educational presentations. 

If you have any questions, please contact Travis Trumitch at (708)383-0258 or travis.trumitch@ageoptions.org. 

The Illinois SMP is happy to announce that we will be hosting webinars online via Zoom Monday through Friday during Medicare Fraud Prevention Week!

Below are the topics and links for our webinars Monday through Friday of Medicare Fraud Prevention Week!

Learn how to read and understand your Medicare statements.

Monday, June 5, 2023- 10:00 am – 10:30 am hosted by Marina Silva

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88481196788

Tips on how to prevent Medicare fraud, errors, and abuse.

Tuesday, June 6, 2023- 1:00 pm – 1:30 pm hosted by Jesus Enriquez

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89869746749

Current Fraud Trends in Illinois (DME, Fake Medicare Cards and Scam calls)

Wednesday, June 7, 2023- 10:00 am – 10:30 am hosted by Jesus Enriquez 

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83760338352

How to Volunteer with the Illinois SMP

Thursday, June 8, 2023- 1:00 pm – 1:30 pm hosted by Marina Silva

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85603507745

Senior Medicare Patrol BINGO

Friday, June 9, 2023- 10:00 am – 10:30 am hosted Marina Silva

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86951281622

If you have any questions, please contact Travis Trumitch at (708)383-0258 or travis.trumitch@ageoptions.org.

*Please note that all webinars above are free.

May and June 2023 SMP Workshops

May 4, 2023, at 1:00 pm - SMP Types of Fraud and SMP Bingo

Schiller Park Public Library (4200 Old River Rd. Schiller Park, IL 60176)

May 5, 2023, at 10:30 am – SMP BINGO

Levy Senior Citizens Center (300 Dodge Ave. Evanston, IL 60202)

May 10, 2023, at 11:00 am - SMP Presentation & Bingo

The Quinn Center (815 Lexington St. Maywood, IL 60153)

May 11, 2023, at 10:00 am – North Riverside Senior Fair

North Riverside Parks & Recreation (2401 Des Plaines Ave. North Riverside, IL 60546)

May 12, 2023, at 10:00 am – Spanish SMP Bingo

Waukegan Township Senior Center (411 S. Lewis Ave. Waukegan, Illinois 60085)

May 16, 2023, at 7:00 pm – Bilingual SMP Bingo

Bensenville Community Public Library (200 S. Church Rd. Bensenville, IL 60106)

May 17, 2023, at 10:00 am - SMP Bingo 

Oak Park Senior Services (130 S. Oak Park Ave. Oak Park, IL  60302)

May 18, 2023, at 3:00 pm – Spanish SMP Bingo #2

Gail Borden Public Library (270 N. Grove Ave, Elgin, IL 60120)

May 20, 2023, at 1:00 pm - Leyden Township Community Health Fair

Bradley A. Stephens Community Center (2620 N. Mannheim Rd. Franklin Park, IL 60131)

May 23, 2023, at 1:00 pm – SMP Bingo

Calumet City Public Library (660 Manistee Ave. Calumet City, IL 60409)

May 23, 2023, at 10:00 am – South Chicago Heights Senior Fair

South Chicago Heights Senior Citizen (3140 Enterprise Park Ave. South Chicago Heights, IL 60411)

May 26, 2023, at 1:00 pm - SMP Presentation & Bingo

Hanover Township (240 S. Route 59 Bartlett, IL 60103)

May 26, 2023, at 10:00 am – SMP presentation with BINGO #2

The Barn (231 Civic Dr. Schaumburg, IL 60193)

May 30, 2023, at 10:00 am – SMP BINGO

Levy Senior Citizens Center (300 Dodge Ave. Evanston, IL 60202)

May 31, 2023, at 11:00 am – Spanish SMP BINGO

Our Lady of Mt Carmel Catholic Church (1101 N. 23rd Ave. Melrose Park, IL 60160)

June 8, 2023, at 12:30 pm - Senior Market

Pav YMCA (2947 S. Oak Park Ave. Berwyn, IL 60402)

June 9, 2023, at 10:00 am – Spanish SMP Bingo

Park Place (414 S. Lewis Ave. Waukegan, IL 60085)

June 10, 2023, at 10:00 am – SMP Bingo

Wheeling Township (1616 N. Arlington Heights Rd. Arlington Heights, IL 60004)

June 14, 2023, at 11:00 am – SMP Bingo

Pav YMCA (2947 S. Oak Park Ave. Berwyn, IL 60402)

June 15, 2023, at 11:00 am – SMP Bingo

Arlington Heights Senior Center (1801 W. Central Rd, Arlington Heights, IL 60005)

June 20, 2023, at 12:00 pm – SMP Bingo

Wheeling Senior Meal Site (1 Community Blvd. Wheeling, IL 60090)

June 21, 2023, at 12:00 pm – Spanish SMP Bingo

Gail Borden Public Library (270 N. Grove Ave. Elgin, IL 60120)

June 28, 2023, at 11:00 am – Spanish SMP Bingo

Melrose Park Senior Meal Site (1101 N. 23rd Ave, Melrose Park, IL 60160)

June 30, 2023, at 10:00 am – SMP BINGO

Levy Senior Citizens Center (300 Dodge Ave. Evanston, IL 60202)

Have a wonderful week!

Travis Trumitch

travis.trumitch@ageoptions.org