FAQs

• Call 1-800-Medicare (1-800-633-4227).

• Contact your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program:
  • SHIP Locator
  • 1-877-839-2675

• Contact the health care provider or the company that issued the bill.
• Contact your state’s Senior Medicare Patrol (select your state on the left and click "search").

• Contact your state’s Senior Medicare Patrol for help (select your state on the left and click "search").
• Alert your health care providers so they can be aware of suspicious activity. 
• If you notice suspicious activity on your statements, contact your health plan or provider and ask for a correction.

• Report it! See the Report Fraud page of this website.

• If the call is from a charity, tell them to send you information in writing. Be sure to add that you do not give money to strangers over the telephone.
• If they are selling something and you are interested, ask for information in writing. If this is a one-time opportunity, tell them you do not make decisions over the phone.
• Ask the caller for his or her name, company name, and callback number. You can call back later to verify the legitimacy of the source and the offer.
• Most importantly, LISTEN for these red flags: 
  • Are they asking for credit card information?
  • Are they asking for banking information?
  • Are they asking for personal information like your Medicare or Social Security number?
  • Do they say the offer is only good today? A real company will give you time to think and verify.
  • Do they know something about you but ask to verify that the information is correct?
  • If any of these are happening, HANG UP!

• Report it to The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 877-382-4357 or online at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov.
• Report it to local law enforcement.

Contact your state’s Quality Improvement Organization (QIO).

• QIOs investigate these complaints, gather facts from all parties involved, and recommend action to help providers and suppliers improve quality of care. Learn more here: https://www.commencehealthqio.cms.gov/en.