Medicare fraud can cost older adults their care and savings

AARP has published a report on how Medicare fraud hurts older adults. Its main point is that fraud is not just a problem for the government. It can cost people their access to care and their financial security. The full text was not available for this article, so the report's details are not covered here.

What the report says

The report links Medicare fraud to two risks for older adults. The first is losing access to care. The second is losing financial security. In plain terms, fraud can get in the way of the medical help a person needs, and it can also put their money at risk.

Who it affects

Medicare is the federal health insurance program that most Americans use once they are older. Anyone who has it, and the family members who help manage it, can be touched by this kind of fraud. That includes adult children who handle a parent's paperwork or bills.

What to do

Simple habits can help. They do not depend on the report's figures, which are not available here.

• Read your Medicare statements for services you never received.
• Treat your Medicare number like a bank card and share it only when needed.
• If you help a parent, review their statements with them.

What is not known yet

The material available does not include numbers, dates, or examples from the report. It is also unclear what specific steps AARP recommends. Readers who want those details should look at the full AARP report.