| US: Seniors on scam alert
Found: Mon Nov 17 00:03:20 2008 PST
Source: Cambridge Evening News (UK)
Copyright: 2008 Cambridge Newspapers Ltd
Contact: letters@cambridge-news.co.uk
Website: http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4131
Webpage: http://www.greenwichtime.com/ci_11002683
Author: Devon Lash, Staff Writer
Newshawk: http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/
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Seniors on scam alert Seniors on scam alert - Greenwich Time
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By Devon Lash
Staff Writer
Article Launched: 11/17/2008 02:33:53 AM EST
STAMFORD - With changes to Medicare Part D plans, seniors should be wary of fraud.
Gail Diaz, coordinator for CHOICES, which provides information on health insurance for seniors and persons with disabilities, said "seniors are a prime target, unfortunately."
CHOICES is a program of the Southwestern Connecticut Agency on Aging in Bridgeport.
Her office has received reports of people posing as Medicare sales representatives going door-to-door to get personal information, others "cold calling" seniors pretending to be from Medicare, and people posing as home health aides, asking to use the bathroom to get inside the house and look for financial information, Diaz said.
Jennifer Throwe, state coordinator for CHOICES, said the state does not know how widespread the fraud is because many seniors do not report it.
Seniors are much more likely to avoid identity theft or Medicare fraud if they are aware of suspicious situations, said Helen Mulligan, a spokeswoman for the Boston regional office of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
As of Oct. 1, Medicare plan representatives are not permitted to "cold call" consumers.
"We hope this will stop prescription drug scams," Mulligan said.
Medicare plan representatives must mail a bill for the cost of the plan that a senior chooses.
"They are not allowed to take credit card information or checking information over the telephone," Mulligan said.
There is no fee to enroll in a plan, she said.
Mulligan
said seniors should report scams and suspicious activity to Medicare at (800) 633-4227.
To familiarize themselves with common scams, seniors may visit the Aging Services Web site, said Mimi Peck-Llewellyn, legal services developer for the aging services division of the state Department of Social Services. All reported Medicare fraud is listed on the Web site, she said. At the site, www.ct.gov/agingservices, select the link for "Programs and Services," then look under "Health Insurance" for "Fraud & Scams Reports & Tips."
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