Q. My husband got a new Medicare card with a new number in the mail recently. It came with a letter saying that his number was changed because Medicare detected an issue with his old number. At first, we thought it was a scam, but he called Medicare, and they confirmed it was real. I didn’t know they could change your number. Is it common?

A. These days, it can be hard to know what’s real and what is a scam – you and your husband were smart to be suspicious. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) did recently issue new Medicare numbers and cards to over 100,000 beneficiaries in Massachusetts, but calling Medicare to confirm was exactly the right thing to do! Always call and check when in doubt. The new cards were sent by mail to the affected beneficiaries; your husband should destroy the old card and start using the new one as of the date stated in his letter.

Your question is timely because June 1-5 is National Medicare Fraud Prevention Week, which shines a spotlight on the things we can do to protect ourselves from fraud, errors, and abuse. Staff and volunteers with the Massachusetts Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) Program travel around the state educating older adults, family members, and caregivers on how to detect, prevent, and report healthcare related issues. They offer a few simple ways to protect yourself from fraud:  

• Guard your Medicare card like a credit card and avoid sharing your number.
• Medicare will never call you! If you get a call from someone claiming to be with Medicare, hang up. Be cautious about answering calls from unknown numbers.
• The new Medicare cards that some people have received are NOT plastic. If you get a plastic card in the mail, this is a scam.
• If you receive something in the mail, but it was not prescribed by your medical provider, report it to the MA SMP Program at 800-892-0890 or to Medicare at 1-800-Medicare (1-800-633-4227).

Medicare fraud costs American taxpayers over $60 billion annually. Staying informed and taking a few simple precautions can help you protect yourself and other beneficiaries who rely on Medicare.

If you suspect you’ve been the victim of fraud, contact the MA SMP Program at 800-892-0890 or Report@MASMP.org. You can learn more about the program by visiting, www.masmp.org.

Are you caring for an older adult or need help finding healthy aging resources? Our experienced staff is available to help. Visit us online at www.agespan.org. You can also call 800-892-0890 or email info@agespan.org. 

Joan Hatem-Roy is the chief executive officer of AgeSpan, which serves the following cities and towns: Amesbury, Andover, Billerica, Boxford, Chelmsford, Danvers, Dracut, Dunstable, Georgetown, Groveland, Haverhill, Lawrence, Lowell, Marblehead, Merrimac, Methuen, Middleton, Newbury, Newburyport, North Andover, Peabody, Rowley, Salisbury, Salem, Tewksbury, Tyngsboro, Westford, and West Newbury.