Spotting the Signs: Helping Older Adults Stay Safe from Medicare Fraud

Recently, our Luther Community welcomed Susan from the Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) program to learn how to spot and stop Medicare fraud, turning community members into official “Fraud Fighters.”

Neighbors gathered at the Luther Community to learn how to spot and stop Medicare fraud.

The SMP programs exist in every state to help people and families prevent, identify, and report health care fraud, errors, and abuse. 

Scams targeting people in our communities are serious threats, and often invisible. And while some of us may be aware of the potential threats, and how to avoid them, our older adult population is proving to be the most vulnerable to scammers. 

In 2024, Americans aged 60 and older reported 147,127 complaints of fraud against older adults to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, resulting in nearly $4.9 billion in losses. This marks a 46% rise in complaints and a 43% rise in total losses from 2023, according to MarketWatch.

SMP and Medicare list several patterns that show up again and again. The Medicare Federal Trade Commission also has released guidance for what to look out for. 

• Unsolicited offers for medical equipment or tests. Examples include “free” braces, walkers, or genetic tests in exchange for a Medicare number. If it’s not your doctor offering it, be skeptical.

• Impersonation calls. Someone claims to be from Medicare, Social Security, or your health plan and pushes for your Medicare number, a payment, or remote access to your devices. The goal is to bill Medicare or steal personal data.

• Too-good-to-be-true “tech support” or “care coordination.” These can start online or by phone and quickly move to requests for payment, personal information, or gift cards. 

Protect

• Treat your Medicare card and number like a credit card. Share only with your doctor or trusted plan contacts. Medicare will not call out of the blue to ask for numbers or payment.

• Create or use your Medicare.gov account and keep a simple log of appointments. This makes it easier to verify what appears on your statements.

Detect

• Review your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) or plan Explanation of Benefits (EOB) each month. Look for services you did not receive, duplicate charges, or wrong dates. Circle anything that doesn’t look right.

• Be alert to pressure tactics such as “act now,” “final notice,” or offers that require your Medicare number to receive a free item.

Report

Fraud cases are often underreported, as shame, embarrassment, or lack of awareness prevents many from coming forward.

• First, call your doctor or plan to ask about any questionable charge. Many issues are clerical and can be fixed quickly.

• If it still looks wrong or feels suspicious, report it:

  • 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or the online “Report Medicare Fraud” form.

  • Senior Medicare Patrol in your state for one-on-one help.

  • HHS-OIG Hotline for suspected fraud, waste, or abuse.

The training at the Luther Community reinforced warnings we are hearing over and over again, but it was a valuable exercise to enforce a few everyday habits that make a real difference: slow down, verify, and keep records. A calendar, a simple file folder, and a monthly ten-minute review can prevent months of headaches. SMP’s core idea fits the Graceworks way of caring for one another: when we protect, detect, and report, we safeguard not only personal finances but also the integrity of the care system so many of us rely on.