Advertising Disclosure

Medicare recipients warned about medical equipment scam

New York group makes it the ‘Medicare Fraud of the Month’

Updated:

Avatar photo
By:
Avatar photo

Mark Huffman
Reporter

Mark Huffman has covered consumer issues since 2004, with a special focus on protecting and empowering older adults. A former news correspondent for the Associated Press Radio Network, Westwood One, and ConsumerAffairs, Mark brings decades of journalistic experience to RetirementLiving.com. He is passionate about giving consumers a voice and helping them make informed decisions. Mark has also created educational content, including Senior Scam Alert, a video resource designed to help seniors recognize and avoid fraud. He holds a B.A. from the University of Kentucky and lives with his family in Richmond, Virginia.
immo-wegmann-unsplash

Photo by Immo Wegmannon Unsplash

Key Insights

  • New York State officials are warning seniors about a surge in Medicare fraud involving “free” medical braces and equipment.
  • Scammers are contacting Medicare beneficiaries to obtain their Medicare numbers and bill the program for unnecessary equipment.
  • Advocates say the scheme can alter victims’ medical records and potentially affect future health care.

A nonprofit organization that advocates for older New Yorkers is warning Medicare beneficiaries everywhere about a growing scam involving durable medical equipment. 

The New York StateWide Senior Action Council, a nonprofit that serves more than 3.6 million older residents in the state, said the scheme is its “Medicare Fraud of the Month” for March, highlighting tactics scammers use to obtain Medicare numbers and fraudulently bill the federal health insurance program.

The alert is part of the organization’s work with the Senior Medicare Patrol, a federally funded program that helps seniors and caregivers detect, prevent and report health care fraud and abuse.

According to the group, the scam often begins with an unsolicited phone call. The caller may claim to represent Medicare or a doctor’s office and may already have some personal information about the recipient.

Scammers try to build credibility

Maria Alvarez, executive director of the New York StateWide Senior Action Council, said scammers often use the calls to build credibility before requesting sensitive information.

“Scammers target Medicare beneficiaries with ‘free’ brace offers, then use their Medicare number to bill for unnecessary equipment and supplies,” Alvarez said. “That can potentially alter medical records and impact future care.”

In many cases, callers ask seniors to confirm personal details, review medications, or discuss chronic conditions before offering “free” braces or other medical devices. Victims are then asked to provide their Medicare number so the equipment can be shipped.

Sometimes, the organization said, medical equipment is mailed to seniors even without a phone call, with the goal of billing Medicare for products that were never requested or medically necessary.

How it can affect seniors

Advocates warn that these schemes can have consequences beyond financial losses. If fraudulent claims appear in a patient’s Medicare records, it could affect the type of equipment or treatment the patient can obtain later.

To avoid becoming victims, experts recommend that seniors never give their Medicare number to unsolicited callers and only accept medical equipment that has been prescribed by their doctor after an in-person or telehealth visit.

They also advise reviewing Medicare Summary Notices carefully to check for unfamiliar charges and reporting any suspicious activity.

“Medicare will not call to offer free braces or medical supplies,” Alvarez said. “If someone does, it’s a scam.”

Education and counseling

The New York StateWide Senior Action Council also provides education and counseling to seniors across the state on Medicare questions, plan comparisons, billing disputes, and appeals.

Medicare fraud is a significant national problem. Federal estimates suggest health care fraud targeting the program costs taxpayers more than $60 billion annually.

To raise awareness, the organization launched its Fraud of the Month program in 2022, highlighting common scams affecting older adults and encouraging beneficiaries to report suspicious activity.