Missouri SMP: Guard your card

This month’s Missouri SMP (Senior Medicare Patrol) Fraud Fact is to remind you to guard your new Medicare card. The mailing of the new Medicare cards is finished, but that doesn’t mean the scammers are done trying to steal your personal information. One way that they do that is by calling your home with an offer for free lamination of your new Medicare card. The scammers may ask you to send in your new card to have it laminated or to give them your new Medicare number so that they can send you a laminated card.
While the offer might sound enticing, don’t do it. Medicare recommends that you do not laminate your new Medicare card and certainly don’t pay someone else to do it. Make sure you destroy your old Medicare card so that the information cannot be stolen from it.
If someone calls your house and threatens to stop your Medicare benefits if you do not give them your information, don’t fall for it. Hang up and call the Missouri SMP.
Protect your Medicare number just like a credit card. Only give the new Medicare number to doctors, pharmacists, other healthcare providers, insurers or people you trust to work with Medicare on your behalf.
Identity theft is a serious crime that happens when someone uses your personal information without your consent to commit fraud or other crimes. Personal information includes your name and your Social Security, Medicare, or credit card numbers. Guard your card and protect your personal information.
As always, report suspected Medicare fraud to the Missouri SMP at 1-888-515-6565.
This project was supported, in part by grant number 90MPPG0040, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official Administration for Community Living policy.