Scammers are Committing Hospice Fraud

The FTC reports that scammers are targeting older adults with calls, texts, emails, fake ads, and even door-to-door visits — claiming they’ll set consumers up with free in-home services like free cooking, cleaning, and home health care. What they aren’t telling consumers is how: These scammers want to commit fraud by signing consumers up for Medicare care. Then, they can bill Medicare for all kinds of services in the consumers name.

Hospice care is a specialized service, often done at home, for people with a terminal illness approaching the end of life. Only a doctor can certify that someone is eligible for hospice (meaning one’s life expectancy is 6 months or less). If someone is signed up for hospice and doesn’t need it, this could affect their Medicare coverage in the future. Anyone who tells a consumer differently is a scammer.

Here are some ways to avoid hospice scams:

· Never give your Medicare number to someone offering “free” services like housekeeping or cooking. Medicare doesn’t offer free services like that.

· Never agree to sign up for hospice care in exchange for perks or gifts like money, gift cards, or groceries.

· Know that Medicare will never come to your home to sign you up for services. If someone comes to your door, says they’re from Medicare, and tries to get you to sign up for services, they’re lying. Don’t give them any information.

If you think you identify hospice fraud, report it as soon as possible. Call 1-800-MEDICARE or reach out to your local Senior Medicare Patrol at SMPresource.org for help. Learn more at Medicare.gov/fraud