Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage

Medicare Fraud

Follow these tips to avoid being a victim of Medicare fraud.

Medicare fraud can occur when someone steals your Medicare number to obtain medical care, buy medication, or submit fake billings to Medicare in your name. Here are some ways that you can stop Medicare fraud:

  • Guard your Medicare and Social Security numbers.
  • Only give your Medicare number to your physician or other approved Medicare providers.
  • Hang up the phone on telemarketers that pretend to be from Medicare or conducting a health care survey and request your Medicare or Social Security number.
  • Be suspicious of offers for free medical service in exchange for your Medicare number; if it is free they don't need your Medicare number.
  • Review your Medicare statements to make sure that your account was not billed for services that you did not receive. Report questionable charges to Medicare at 1-800-633-4227.
  • For more tips on preventing Medicare fraud, visit stopmedicarefraud.gov.

If you suspect that you have been the victim of Medicare fraud, contact the Department of Health and Human Services' Inspector General at 1-800-447-8477 or by email.

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Health - Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage

Medicare offers prescription drug coverage to help senior citizens and others who need medical assistance get the prescription drugs they need, under Part D of the program (or Part C if you are enrolled in the Medicare Advantage Plan). Everyone with Medicare can join a drug plan to get this coverage. Not all Medicare drug plans are the same, however. If you aren’t sure whether a drug plan is approved by Medicare, call 1-800-MEDICARE  (633-4227). Look for the “Medicare Approved” seal on drug discount cards to make sure you are getting the best deal.

Medicare prescription drug coverage pays expenses up to $2,800; once your prescription costs exceeds that amount, you will no longer have coverage and will be responsible for the full cost of your drugs. However, once your out-of-pocket spending reaches $4,550, your prescription coverage will kick back in. Any amount of prescription drug spending between $2,800 and $4,550 is called the coverage gap or “Medicare donut hole.” Beginning in 2013, if you reach the coverage gap, you will automatically get a 52.5% discount on covered brand-name drugs and a 14% discount on generic drugs. If you have limited income and resources, you may get extra help to cover prescription drugs for little or no cost.