Health Insurance Scams: Healthcare complexity creates opportunities for criminals to exploit confusion about insurance benefits and coverage.
Common Scam Techniques:
• Posing as your insurance provider by phone or mail
• Requesting payment for doctor visits
• Offering "deals" on unnecessary medical equipment
• Creating pressure to act quickly
How to Protect Yourself:
• Verify credentials of anyone contacting you about insurance
• Hang up and call your insurer using the number on your policy if suspicious
• Keep detailed records of appointments, charges, and payments
• Only provide personal information with your insurance agent present
• Always verify discounts and deals with your provider before purchasing
Remember: You can always hang up and verify through official channels.
Medicare Scams: As Medicare beneficiaries increase, so do scams targeting this population. Criminals use various schemes to steal personal information and money.
Common Scam Techniques:
• "New Card Scheme" - Claiming Medicare is issuing new cards requiring personal information
• "Refund Scam" - Promising money back due to Medicare changes
• "Free Checkup" - Offering complimentary services to gather personal data
• Spoofing caller ID to appear as legitimate healthcare providers
How to Protect Yourself:
• Initiate contact with Medicare or your insurer using official contact information
• Keep detailed records of all medical costs billed to insurance
• Verify any refund claims directly with Medicare before providing information
• Don't trust caller ID - scammers can make calls appear from legitimate numbers
• Never share Medicare policy information when situations seem suspicious