Fight Health Care Fraud and Scams

Did you know that fraud in the health care system drives up insurance premiums and other health care costs? In fact, research suggests that anywhere from $100-300 billion of the over 2 trillion dollars spent on health care each year is lost to fraud and abuse.

How does this affect you? First, it will cause you health insurance rates to go up. It is like getting a bill for an extra $1,000 from your health insurer. Plus, you may be prey for schemes without even knowing it.

Join the effort to stop the con artists and thieves who abuse the health care system and take advantage of all of us. Spot the fraud and take action.

What if someone tries to get your health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security numbers? This is medical identity theft, and it can lead to fraud.

Here are actions you should take:

What if you see something that doesn't look right on your insurance Explanation of Benefits or your Medicare Summary Notice? This, too, could be health care fraud.

Here is what you can do:

For more tips on how you can fight health care fraud, visit www.aarp.org/fightfraud.

Frank Bailey, Director of Health at AARP, leads the Association's member and consumer health education and outreach program, which includes work on issues such as Medicare, prescription drug affordability, long term care, prevention and wellness, wise use of medications and the new health care law (the Affordable Care Act).