Medicare Identity Theft Can Disrupt Your Medical Care and Waste Tax Payer Dollars

If You Spot Unusual or Questionable Charges, Contact Your Health Care Provider

Public Service Announcement – English

Dear PSA Director,

Medicare is mailing new Medicare cards to all people with Medicare starting in April 2018. The new card will have a new unique Medicare Number instead of a Social Security Number. This will help to protect from identity theft.

Medicare recipients should only give the new Medicare Number to trusted people like doctors, pharmacists, health care providers, or insurers. 

If you suspect Medicare fraud, contact the Department of Health & Human Services Office of Inspector General at 1-800-447-8477 (1-800-HHS-TIPS) or online at oig.hhs.gov/fraud/hotline.

Please help protect your viewer’s personal information by placing this PSA in heavy rotation between late August to Wednesday, October 31, 2018.

Thank you in advance for your support,

The Department of Health & Human Services

I GOT A CALL ONE EVENING, A MAN TOLD ME I WAS APPROVED FOR A BACK BRACE THROUGH MEDICARE. I GAVE HIM MY MEDICARE NUMBER AND MY DEBIT CARD NUMBER. SCAMS LIKE THIS HAPPEN EVERY DAY, BUT YOU HAVE THE POWER TO STOP THESE CRIMINALS. DON’T RESPOND TO UNSOLICITED REQUESTS FOR YOUR MEDICARE NUMBER OR OTHER PERSONAL INFORMATION.  IF YOU THINK SOMETHING SUSPICIOUS HAS OCCURRED, REPORT IT IMMEDIATELY.