News

August 2023 Fraud Fact

Posted: Wednesday, August 9th, 2023

August’s fraud fact from Missouri SMP (Senior Medicare Patrol) deals with the unexpected knock on the door from someone trying to sell something. Older adults often are targets of door-to-door salespeople who might use unscrupulous and dishonest sales tactics to sell you something you don’t need. These folks may be trying to sell a new

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July 2023 Fraud Fact

Posted: Friday, July 7th, 2023

This month’s Missouri SMP (Senior Medicare Patrol) Fraud Fact is to remind you to guard your 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

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June 2023 Fraud Fact

Posted: Thursday, May 25th, 2023

Beware of unsolicited ‘free’ over-the-counter COVID tests The Missouri SMP (Senior Medicare Patrol) wants you to know that over-the-counter COVID-19 tests are not covered automatically by Medicare anymore. Under the recently-expired public health emergency, beneficiaries were able get over-the-counter tests with no out-of-pocket costs. Not anymore! That public health emergency ended May 11. You can

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Learn their tricks! How Medicare Scams work.

Posted: Friday, April 14th, 2023

Medicare scammers have added the use of cell phones, text messaging, email, social media and websites to their bag of tricks. Of course, their old-fashioned methods of face-to-face, door-to-door, and physical mail are still effective. It’s becoming more common for scammers to “layer” modern technology, such as text messaging and telephones, together to appear more

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April 2023 Fraud Fact

Posted: Thursday, March 30th, 2023

The Missouri Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) strongly advises that you be smart about sharing your Medicare number. Read easy tips and best practices for proper Medicare card management.

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Missouri SMP is sharing tips to help stop consumer fraud

Posted: Wednesday, March 8th, 2023

Like Medicare scams, SMP wants you to be aware of common consumer fraud scams & how to protect yourself against them.

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March 2023 Fraud Fact

Posted: Tuesday, February 28th, 2023

If your medical identity is compromised, you run the risk of being denied essential services and items. Don’t let scammers steal your chance to get the coverage on the medical services you need!

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Protect Yourself from Callback Phishing Scams

Posted: Tuesday, February 7th, 2023

Hackers are using a new two-part “Callback Phishing” scam. This “hybrid” scam works! According to Cybertalk.org, Callback Phishing attacks increased by 625% in 2022. First, you get an urgent text or email about a big problem, such as a payment that is late, or a computer security issue, or a concern with your Medicare account.

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Find Missouri SMP at your Missouri Area Agency on Aging

Posted: Thursday, January 26th, 2023

If you suspect Medicare fraud, errors or abuse, you can call the statewide Missouri Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) at 888-515-6565. In addition, Missouri SMP is proud to partner with all 10 of the Missouri Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) to provide ongoing outreach and education, including: Area Agencies on Aging network supports Missouri Seniors Missouri’s

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February 2023 Fraud Fact

Posted: Friday, January 20th, 2023

Genetic testing scams are a real problem. If Medicare denies the claim, a beneficiary might be responsible for the entire cost of the test. Unfortunately, the average cost of medically unnecessary tests ranges from $9,000 to $11,000. Your doctor must prescribe this kind of testing.

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