What you can do to prevent healthcare fraud
It’s always a good idea to review your medical record, including insurance estimates of benefits, for possible errors. Some might be just that…errors, while others might hide cunningly devised fraud schemes.
“It is not uncommon for people who feel vulnerable to not report incidents of suspected abuse because they somehow feel personally responsible for it,” said Suzanne Shier, J.D., a Chicago-based wealth planning practice executive, chief tax strategist, and counsel at Northern Trust, a global wealth management firm. “So underreporting is fairly common.”
- If you suspect you’ve been scammed, don’t be afraid to report it to your insurer.
- If you observe any errors or have any fraud suspicions regarding Medicare services, report to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, your local Senior Medicare Patrol or go to the Medicare website and look for “report Medicare fraud”.
- If you are on Medicaid, you should report to the State Medical Assistance Office.
- Military personnel and veterans can report to Tricare.
- You can also report health care fraud and abuse using the FBI’s dedicated lines for the general public.
Read also: 9 Biggest Online Scams You Might Fall Victim To
