08/19/2026
Ever get a package with a back brace or any type of orthotics in the mail and your doctor never ordered you one?
Medicare fraud is very common, costing the U.S. government and taxpayers an estimated $60 billion to over $100 billion each year in fraudulent payouts and billing errors. Because Medicare processes over a trillion dollars annually, it remains a major target for organized criminal rings and dishonest medical providers.
Common Types of Fraud:
Phantom billing: Charging for doctor visits, tests, or medical gear never given.
Upcoding: Billing for a more expensive service or treatment than the patient actually got.
Kickbacks: Paying or receiving illegal cashand bribes in exchange for patient referrals or Medicare numbers.
Medical identity theft: Stealing a person's Medicare number to file fake claims.
Prevention and Detection
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services uses advanced computer analytics, machine learning, and AI to flag strange billing habits in real time. They stop billions of dollars in bad claims every year, but many schemes still slip through. You can learn more about spotting scams or reporting suspicious charges through the Senior Medicare Patrol.
If you suspect you or a loved one experienced fraud, let me know:
What kind of charge or contact you are seeing (like an odd item on a statement or a strange phone call)Whether you shared your Medicare number with anyoneI can guide you on the exact steps to report it.
Call us at 336.918.4545
