DELAWARE SENIOR MEDICARE PATROL REPORTS PHONE, MAIL SCAMS

Delaware Senior Medicare Patrol Reports Phone and Mail Scams Related

NEW CASTLE (Dec. 20, 2012) - The Delaware Senior Medicare Patrol program has received several reports from across the state of apparent telephone and mail scams in which callers try to obtain personal information from Medicare beneficiaries under the guise of updating or renewing Medicare cards.

The calls, coming from different areas, may ask for a person's Medicare number, Social Security number or monthly income, and some have asked for bank routing numbers. In the mail scams, the wording indicates the documents must be completed now.

Medicare recipients are advised not to give out personal information over the phone. Medicare officials do not call for such information because they already have it on file. Calls to talk about changes to your Medicare under the Affordable Care Act or for any other reason are a scam. When in doubt, do not give out any information.

Please report any such calls or mailings. Gather as much information about the caller or keep the mailing, and call Delaware's Aging and Disability Resource Center at (800) 223-9074. The center will connect you with Delaware's Senior Medicare Patrol.

"We need everyone's help to fight Medicare fraud and protect Medicare dollars," said Cheryl Hollis, director of Delaware's Senior Medicare Patrol. "If you need help or want to help, please contact us."

Delaware Senior Medicare Patrol is a statewide program, which fights health care fraud by educating older adults on how to protect, detect and report fraud. The patrol is managed within DHSS' Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities.

For more information about Delaware Senior Medicare Patrol, go to dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dsaapd/fraudpatrol.html or contact Cheryl Hollis, Director of Delaware Senior Medicare Patrol, at (302) 424-7388.

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware's citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.