From the Valley Isle

Here are pictures taken during a presentation   by our Maui team members at a presentation for (Medical ID Theft and Fraud Prevention) for the Camelia Club on Maui.

FRAUD ADVISORY: SSA OIG Warns Public About "Disability Services" Phone Calls

Social Security Inspector General Patrick P. O’Carroll is warning citizens to be aware of phone calls from unknown people who claim to have information about a citizen’s application for disability benefits and offer assistance with the citizen’s claim.  The Office of the Inspector General received a report from a Maryland citizen who recently received several of these phone calls, even though the citizen had not applied for disability benefits.

The callers appear to be “phishing” for personal information—such as Social Security numbers or personal financial information—from unknowing citizens, who possibly have applied for disability benefits and thus might be inclined to provide information to the caller in furtherance of his or her claim. 


See the full advisory at the OIG website. 

5 Ways to Become an Informed Medicare Customer

From The Medicare Blog
View Full Version

5 WAYS TO BECOME AN INFORMED MEDICARE CONSUMER

Each day, you make important choices about your finances, health, privacy, and more.

During National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), March 6–12, 2016, non-profit organizations and government agencies can help you take advantage of your rights and make better-informed choices.

There are 5 things you can do to become an informed Medicare consumer:

1. Know your rights. As a person with Medicare, you have certain rights and protections designed to help protect you and make sure you get the health care services the law says you can get.
2. Protect your identity. Identity theft happens when someone uses your personal information without your consent to commit fraud or other crimes. Keep this personal information safe:

• Your name
• Your Social Security Number (SSN)
• Your Medicare number (or your membership card if you’re in a Medicare Advantage or other Medicare health plan)
• Your credit card and bank account numbers

Get more information on how to protect yourself from identity theft.

3. Help fight Medicare fraud. Medicare fraud takes money from the Medicare program each year, which means higher health care costs for you. Learn how to report fraud.
4. Get involved with other seniors with the Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP). The SMP educates and empowers people with Medicare to take an active role in detecting and preventing health care fraud and abuse.
5. Make informed Medicare choices. Each year during the fall Open Enrollment Period (October 15–December 7), review your plan to make sure it will meet your needs for the next year. If you’re not satisfied with your current plan, you can switch during the Open Enrollment Period.

Visit NCPW.gov to learn more about the campaign, see which agencies and organizations are able to help you, and to find out if there are any activities happening in your area. Also, check out our videos for tips on preventing Medicare fraud and see how seniors are learning to stop, spot, and report fraud.

FROM THE ISLAND OF MAUI

Here is our SMP Volunteer Louise on Friday, Nov. 20 at the Maui Family Caregiver Conference.   It was so busy that her envelopes were gone in a matter of minutes!

From the Island of Maui on Halloween

At  the Maui Economic Opportunity Fair, Volunteers Eugenia, Louise, and Cici were there to represent the Senior Medicare Patrol.

From Lahaina on Maui

Volunteers Cici and Louise participated in the Da Kidney Da Kine Day Fair at the Lahaina Cannery on October 10th

From the Valley Isle

Here’s a picture of volunteers Merlino and Eugenia at the Maui Primetime Fair