Podcasts about medicare id

A Podcast by BBB of the Tri-Counties A BIG thank you to Ayers Automotive Repairs in Santa Barbara for supporting this podcast. Welcome to this week's edition of Your Moment of Trust! Healthcare scams are as varied as just about any con out there. The fraudster often poses as a government authority to persuade you to provide personal information related to your Medicare or Medicaid account for identity theft. In other cases, the con artist is after your health insurance, Medicaid, or Medicare information to submit fraudulent medical charges. How the scam works: The scam typically starts with an email, text message, or phone call that appears to be from a government agency. Con artists use a variety of stories. In one common version, the “agent” tells you that he or she needs to update account information to send a new medical card. In another version, the scammer asks for your account number in exchange for free equipment or services. A third version involves a threatening robocall purporting to be from HealthCare.gov or the Health Insurance Marketplace. You're told you must buy health insurance or face a fine. Sure enough, you're soon asked to provide personal information. A more recent version has reported Medicare recipients receiving notices that new Medicare cards with microchips will be sent out and further verification is required. Tips to avoid this scam: ● Don't trust a name or number. Con artists use official-sounding names or mask their area codes by spoofing to make you trust them. Don't fall for it. ● Hang up and go to official websites. You can enroll or re-enroll in Medicare at Medicare.gov or a marketplace health plan at Healthcare.gov. ● Never share personally identifiable information with someone who has contacted you unsolicited, whether over the phone, by email, or on social media. This includes banking and credit card information, your birthdate, Social Security or Social Insurance number, and, of course, your health insurance number. ● Guard your government-issued numbers. Never offer your Medicare ID number, Social Security number, health plan info, or banking information to anyone you don't know. ● Know the signs. Medicare will never contact you via email, text message, or phone, asking you to verify personal information. Until next time!

Robyn Householder, President and CEO of the Better Business Bureau Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky, who provides some context around their efforts to promote beneficial, ethical relationships between consumers and businesses. During the interview, Householder discusses a number of scams that are taking place and offers helpful tips for avoiding them. The scams covered include dishonest charity fundraisers, holiday shopping scams, and Medicare scams.Spot and stop dishonest charity fundraisers.FTC announced a settlement in a case against Outreach Calling, Inc., its founder Mark Gelvan, and others.FTC announced that they called millions of Americans on behalf of bogus charities.They claimed that the charities delivered care packages to Vietnam veterans in need, helped breast cancer survivors, gave grants to family members of fallen officers, and other things.these fundraisers kept 90% or more of the donations they got.Do you research especially now when many organizations are strapped for cash.The giving season is also starting early this year due to increased need in the community and lower than normal corporate donations.See what these rating organizations say about the charity: BBB Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator, Charity Watch, and GuideStar.Tips: If called, ask the caller specific questions:What is the charity's name, phone number, or address? Write these down so you can confirm them later. Keep in mind that many charity names sound alike.Resist the pressure to donate now. After you've listened to the caller, hang up the phone and think about what they said. Then, go online and do your own research:Search for the organization's name and phone number, plus the word “scam” or “complaint.” What you find might help you decide if you want to make that donation.Always go online and donate on a SSL verified (lock in the corner of the URL) donation page.Be careful for name confusion.Holiday shopping scam.With holidays around the corner (including prime and other promotional days.) stores and shops are trying to meet you and find you online instead of the normal black Friday promotions.Walmart's new way for kids to view the toy aisle from home47% consumers are planning on doing holiday shopping online.Many people did not go on normal trips meaning that some will be tempted to spend on larger items, TV and electronics.Online purchase scams have steadily been rising in effectiveness because of a shift in behavior and normalization of online purchasing.  In 2016 consumers who lost money to online purchase scams made up around 34% of our reported scams. This year we are up 65%.Specifically, fake websites have seen a 51% increase over this same time frame last year.With 47% consumers planning on doing holiday shopping online many people will fall for that ad on social media or a fake website that has that kids toy that is out of stock.Tips:Before paying, know your rights and responsibilities. In everything from check cashing scams to cons involving new peer-to-peer payment systems, scammers often take advantage of what consumers don't know when it comes to processing payments. Don't make a purchase from a shady seller assuming you'll be protected no matter what.Before buying online, confirm the site has real contact information. Make sure the seller has a working phone number and address on the website, so you can contact them in case of problems.If the price seems too good to be true, there's probably something wrong. Be wary if the item is selling for significantly lower than what you've seen elsewhere.Review BBB online shopping tips. Many online purchase scams use similar tactics. See BBB.org/ShoppingOnline for more advice.Medicare scams.Open Enrollment for Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans started Oct. 15 to December 7ACA open enrolment is Novemebr 1 to December 15 (ACA)Employees should also be on the lookout for emails from employer and service provider.Last year the most common situation was someone claiming to be a “Medicare advisor.” The caller tells you that they can enroll you in Medicare or another health insurance program over the phoneOr they used fear saying your insurance would cancel immediately unless you renewed right now.Some dishonest brokers may try to sell you plans that don't fit your needs just to benefit them financially. Scammers may pose as government representatives to steal your identity.no-cost genetic DNA testing has been popular in the past.Tips:Be wary of anyone who contacts you unsolicited. People representing Medicare or ACA plans don't contact you by phone, email or in person unless you are already enrolled. Be especially cautious of calls that require quick action or immediate payment, or that threaten you in any way.Decline promotional gifts in exchange for personal information. Keep a healthy level of skepticism any time a broker offers you free gifts, health screenings, or other special deals. Never sign up with a broker who offers you an expensive “sign-up gift” in exchange for providing your Medicare ID number or other personally identifiable information.Beware of dishonest brokers who offer “free health screenings.” Some brokers offer this to weed out people who are less healthy. This is called “cherry picking” and is against the Medicare rules.Guard your government-issued numbers. Never offer your Medicare ID number, Social Security number, health plan info, or banking information to anyone you don't know. Keep your government ID cards in a safe place.Learn more about open enrollment and spotting a Medicare or ACA scam on the Federal Trade Commission website or  BBB.org/HealthCareScam.

Tech-support scams are back, sneakier than ever. And the roll out of the new Medicare ID card is creating a minefield for older people. Spread the word!

It’s Monday, March 26th, and here is the PT news from the week. The APTA defines its new mission moving forward, CMS outlines OASIS-D changes and their brand new Medicare ID cards, West Virginia sends a bill to the governor to reduce opioid use, we update you on legislation in Idaho and Colorado, and the Lancet releases a series of articles criticizing the current treatment of Low Back Pain and extolling the virtues of non-pharmacologic therapy. Talus Media News is a subsidiary of Talus Media: PT Views & PT News. You can find all interviews mentioned in this newscast on our sister channel, Talus Media Talks. Check us out on Twitter & Facebook @TalusMedia, and head to our website at talusmedia.org for more information.

Hey Medicare Nation! Many of you carry your Medicare ID card in your wallet or purse. If you are a Medicare Advantage beneficiary, you have a “separate” medical ID card from the insurance carrier. It is not necessary to carry your Medicare ID card, If you have a Medicare Advantage ID card. Who should carry their Medicare ID Card? If the official Medicare program is your “primary” insurance, you should be carrying your Medicare ID card. Now….. let me discuss with you how you can carry your Medicare ID card in a safer way. Currently, your Medicare ID Card has your Social Security number on it, with a letter at the end of your Social Security number.  If you have your social security number memorized, take these steps to help prevent “identity theft.” Make a copy of your Medicare ID Card Place your original Medicare ID Card in a safe place. Take a Black Permanent Marker and “black out” all of the numbers of your social security number( except the last four numbers and the letter), on the copy. Laminate the copy Put this copy of your Medicare ID card in your wallet or purse.   If you are on a Medicare Advantage Plan or a Supplement to Medicare Plan, you should be carrying the Medical ID card the insurance carrier provided you. If you have a stand-alone prescription drug plan, you will also have a separate card for your prescriptions. You will need to carry this card in your wallet or purse also.   How Do I Replace My Medicare ID Card if I Lost it or it Was Stolen? If you made a copy of your Medicare ID Card like I described above, you won’t have a problem. You can retrieve your Medicare ID Card from it’s safe place and make a new copy of the card. If you didn’t make a copy of your Medicare ID Card, you will need to ask the Social Security Administration for a replacement card. Follow these steps: You can ask for a Medicare Replacement Card : Online By phone At a local Social Security office location                                                            A.Online Go to ssa.gov You’ll see pretty pictures on the home page. On the left side is a picture, with the caption… “Learn What You Can Do Online.” “Click” on the that photo. When the next page opens, look down to about the 7th It will read….”If you get Social Security benefits or have Medicare you can….” “Click” on that line. Sign in or Register for a “My Social Security Account.” 5th line down should read….. “Get a Replacement Medicare Card” Select – “Replacement Documents” tab. Fill out the required information. If the site “accepts” your information, you are all set! You should receive your replacement Medicare Card in 30 – 60 days. If the site shows any kind of “error” or “red flags,” you will need to physically go down to a local Social Security location.             B. By Phone                      1. Call 800 - 633 - 4227                     C. Social Security Office                       1. Click on the "Social Security Location" tab and put in your                          zip code to find the nearest location to you.   Thanks so much for listening to Medicare Nation! I appreciate the time you took to listen. If you have a parent or grandparent, who is approaching Medicare age (65) or is already receiving Medicare benefits, help them “Subscribe” to Medicare Nation. Buy them a Smartphone! If you buy them an Apple phone…show them the “purple” podcast icon on the phone and how they access Medicare Nation. Once the Medicare Nation page loads….. click on “subscribe.” All current shows will load automatically once a week for them! If you buy them an Android phone, just go to Google Play and “Search” for the app – “Stitcher.” Download the Stitcher App. When you open Stitcher, they will need to sign up with an email address and password. Once the home page opens, show them how to “swipe” to the left, until they reach the “last page.” This is the “Search” page. In the “search” bar…. Type in “Medicare Nation.” Medicare Nation comes right up! “Click” on the Subscribe button…… they are set! Help your parents “search” for other types of podcasts they would have an interest in. You will be opening up a brand new world for them and they WILL thank you for it!

Hey Medicare Nation! I hope everyone is having an awesome week! Say goodbye to February! I know all of you Northerners are thrilled to see it go! Bring it on March! You know, I see many, many clients and one of the top questions I am asked is, "What does the letter on my Medicare ID card mean?" It happens so often, I figured I better dedicate an episode to just that! The Social Security Administration (SSA) assigns a letter and a number, (if you fit into a sub-group) when you apply for Social Security Benefits and/or Medicare. The letter (and number if it applies) is found on your Medicare ID Card, right after your social security number. As an example, if you have worked and contributed to FICA (Federal Insurance Contribution Act), and started receiving your Social Security benefits at age 64, and you enrolled in Medicare at age 65, the letter "A" will be designated to you. The "claim" number would look like this on your Medicare ID Card: 123-45-6789A Just as "Different Strokes for different Folks," the Social Security Administration assigns "claim" numbers for different situations. "Where Do I find the full list of Social Security claim letters?" You can go to the following locations to see a full list of claim letters: 1. www.ssa.gov 2. Title XVIII of the Social Security Act 3. For a Free List of the Codes Listed by the Social Security Administration on their website, go to my website - www.callsamm.com   Thanks for listening to Medicare Nation! Please SHOW someone how to "subscribe" to Medicare Nation, so they can learn about their Medicare benefits and what type of Medicare Plan they should be on!  

Hello Medicare Nation listeners! Today, I’ve put together a few questions from our audience that I’d like to read on the air. Many of you ask the same questions, so I’d like to help out as many of you as I can.   Wendy from King of Prussia, Pennsylvania asks??? HOW DO I GET A REPLACEMENT MEDICARE CARD? If you are on Original Medicare, your Medicare ID card is proof of your Medicare insurance. , If your Medicare card was lost, stolen, destroyed or illegible, you can ask for a replacement card by going online and logging in to your Social Security account at www.ssa.gov If you don’t have an online social security account, you can register one on the www.ssa.gov website. Once you’ve logged into your account, select the “Replacement Documents” tab. Then select “Mail my replacement Medicare Card.”  Your replacement Medicare card will arrive in the mail in about 30 days, at the address on file with Social Security. If you moved and you did not update Social Security with your new address, you must update your new address into the database, or Social Security will be sending your replacement Medicare card to your old address! If you don’t have the internet, a computer or you just want to call Social Security, here’s the number to call: 800-772-1213 You can also go to your nearest Social Security office to get a Medicare card replacement. To find the nearest social security office, get on the home page of www.ssa.gov  “click” on the social security office location tab and type in your zip code for the nearest social security office.   Kenny from Rio Rancho, New Mexico asks?????? WHAT INTERNET BROWSER CAN I USE TO VIEW THE MEDICARE.GOV WEBSITE? The official Medicare.gov website states – For optimal results, use Internet Explorer 8.0 or 9.0. You can also view in Firefox, Chrome and Opera.   June from San Diego – California asks???? WHAT DOES MEDICALLY NECESSARY MEAN? Medicare will only pay for services that are considered to be medically necessary. According to Medicare.gov,  services or supplies are considered medically necessary if they: Are needed for the diagnosis, or treatment of your medical condition. Are provided for the diagnosis, direct care, and treatment of your medical condition. Meet the standards of good medical practice in the medical community of your local area. Are not mainly for the convenience of you or your doctor.                       AN EXAMPLE of NOT “Medically Necessary,” is cosmetic surgery. Maybe you don’t like your nose because it’s too big for your face. Medicare will not pay for cosmetic surgery to make you look pretty. It must be “Medically Necessary.”  A better example would be if your face was disfigured due to a car accident, a fire or a severe dog bite. You will need treatment to stop the bleeding and to prevent infection, so Medicare will pay for the treatment of those types of injuries.  Thanks for listening!  Send your questions to Support@TheMedicareNation.com