Older adults encouraged to report Medicare fraud

With the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit open enrollment period closed and new benefit statements in the mail, older adults should review their benefit statement and check both the amounts and types of services received. If they believe that their statement shows suspect charges, they should contact their provider first and then their local Area Agency on Aging (AAA).

Throughout the enrollment period, the IAAAA Education Institute had been alerting older adults and persons with disabilities to the types of attempts that could be made to defraud them.

"Just as it was ok to tell someone 'no' if they were aggressively pressuring you to buy a prescription drug benefit, asking for financial account numbers or a signature on a blank form, it is equally ok to tell someone you will not be charged for a service you did not receive or at a higher price than what you understood at the time of service," said Association CEO Melissa Durr.

There are several warning signs of senior fraud. They include: + have a sudden, unexpected loss in their bank account. + make repeated and/or large payments to unknown companies. + receive lots of free items for signing up for services they may not need. + receive unneeded durable medical equipment.

To report a suspect communication, call the AAA at 1-800-986-3505. All suspected fraud case information is confidential.