Page 34 - Amarillo Senior Link Magazine Winter 2020- Online Magazine

SENIOR RESOURCES

COVID-19

CONSUMER TIPS

For Protecting Yourself &

Your Medicare Coverage

cams related to the
coronavirus, also
Sknown as COVID-19, What Does Medicare Cover in • Senior Medicare Patrol National
are rapidly increasing as the Relation to COVID-19? Resource Center (SMPNRC):
public health emergency
develops. Scammers are • Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) www.smpresource.org/Content/
targeting older adults and covers COVID-19 tests when ordered Medicare-Fraud/Fraud-Schemes/
those with serious long- by your doctor or health care provider COVID-19-Fraud.aspx
term health conditions who on or after February 4, 2020. • Centers for Disease Control
appear to have a higher and Prevention (CDC): CDC.gov/
risk for serious illness from • Medicare covers all medically coronavirus/2019-ncov
COVID-19. Fraudsters are necessary hospitalizations, including
attempting to bill Medicare extra days in the hospital for patients • Federal Trade Commission (FTC):
for sham tests or treatments who had to stay longer under FTC.gov/coronavirus
related to the coronavirus. COVID-19 quarantine.
Remember – NEVER give • There is no vaccine for COVID-19 • Medicare: Medicare.gov/Medicare-
coronavirus for how your Senior
your social security number at this time;* however, if one becomes Medicare Patrol (SMP) can help. Your
to anyone other than available, Medicare will cover it. local SMP is ready to provide you with
your doctor, health care
provider or other trusted • Medicare also recently expanded the information you need to PROTECT
representative. Medicare coverage of telehealth services to yourself from Medicare fraud, errors,
will never ask for your SS enable beneficiaries to access a wider and abuse; DETECT potential fraud,
number over the phone. range of services from their providers errors, and abuse; and REPORT your
Keep your social security without having to travel to a facility. concerns. SMP will answer your
card in a safe place. Don’t questions and help with your concerns
give out your SS number • This includes access to doctors, nurse and complaints about potential
to a solicitor who calls over practitioners, clinical psychologists, fraud and abuse issues. It can also
the phone or comes to your and licensed clinical social workers. provide information and educational
door. Ignore online offers for presentations.
vaccinations. If you see ads • During this emergency, there are
touting prevention products also more options for the ways your
or cures for COVID-19, providers can talk with you under this Contact Texas Senior Medicare Patrol
they are most likely a scam. provision. (SMP) by calling 1-888-341-6187 or
Be alert of “investment 713-341-6184 or visiting
opportunities.” Watch • For Medicare coverage questions, www.texassmp.org.
out for online promotions, contact your local State Health
including on social media, Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)
claiming that products or at SHIPTAcenter.org or 1-877-839-2675. Information sheet provided by a grant (No.
services of publicly traded 90MPRC0001) from the Administration
companies can prevent, Other COVID-19 Resources: for Community Living (ACL), U. S.
detect, or cure COVID-19 Department of Health and Human
and that the stock of these • Administration for Community Services (DHHS)
companies will dramatically Living (ACL): ACL.gov/COVID19
increase in value as a result.

34 Amarillo Senior Link *at the time of printing