Report fraud & abuse

What can I do to protect myself?

• Report suspicious billing
  For claims    questions, billing errors or provider disputes please contact a customer service representative at the phone number listed on your medical identification card.
• Review your policy and benefit statements
  Review your policy, Explanation of Benefits (EOB)    statements and any other paperwork you receive related to your health care coverage. Make sure you received the treatments for which your health plan was charged and question suspicious expenses.
• Beware of "free" offers, including waiver of copay or coinsurance
  Offers of "free" services, including waiver of copay    or coinsurance   , are often fraud schemes designed to bill you and your health plan illegally for thousands of dollars of treatments you never received. Do not give your policy number in exchange for getting a "free" consultation.
• Protect your health plan ID card like your credit card
  In the wrong hands, a health plan ID card is a license to steal. Don't give policy numbers to door-to-door salespeople or telephone solicitors. Never give your card to a friend to use for medical services.

How do I report fraud and abuse?

If you think you've been a victim of identity theft or fraud, call any of these numbers:

• Call toll-free 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY, call toll-free 1-877-486-2048, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• The Fraud Hotline of the HHS Office of Inspector General, toll-free at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477). TTY, call toll-free 1-800-377-4950. You can also email HHSTips@oig.hhs.gov.
• The Federal Trade Commission's ID Theft Hotline toll-free at 1-877-438-4338 to make a report. TTY users, call toll-free 1-866-653-4261.

You can always remain anonymous.

Other resources

• Review the Code of Federal Regulations
  
• Learn how to report Medicare fraud from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)