BBB warns seniors about medicare rebate scam.
July 14, 2010
Jacksonville, Florida /Savannah, Georgia
Recent calls to the BBB from senior citizens point to individuals or companies using the Medicare rebate as a tool to gain appointments and get information from senior citizens.
Companies or con artists may contact senior citizens and lead them to believe that in order to receive the tax free rebate they must provide additional information. These companies may be attempting to sell you their drug policy or the worst case is they are con artists planning to use your information to take money and steal your identity.
President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act in 2010 which provides a $250 tax free rebate to seniors on Medicare who have prescription drug coverage. This coverage may be through Medicare Extra Help or provided through another Medicare approved provider. The gap or sometimes referred to as a “donut” is the point when the individual has reached a point in the plan where coverage stops and they pay out of pocket until the expenses reach a point that the plan will again pay. At that point a rebate check will be mailed to the participants.
Medicare announced in May 2010 an urgent warning not to give out any information due to the fact that no action is necessary to receive the money. If a Medicare recipient is in the plan, the pharmacy records will automatically “trigger” the rebate and a check made out in the participants name will be sent within 45 days.
“Any company or individual that is telling you that you must first fill out paperwork, meet with them, or buy their policy is using the rebate as a deceptive way to solicit business or steal your identity” said, Ross Howard with the Better Business Bureau.
Callers are telling the BBB they are asked to meet with someone for the purpose of getting the rebate. Already many states Attorneys General have issued similar warnings to this BBB warning. If you are approached by phone for an appointment know that it is not necessary to give out any information or purchase a policy to receive the check and you may report information about the caller such as name, name of company, phone number and address to the BBB and also Medicare at 1-800-633-4227 or the local police.
Contact:
Jacksonville- Tom Stephen 904-721-2288 X 313
Savannah-Ross Howard 912-354-7521 X404
Email: rhoward@bbbnefla-sea.org
tstephens@bbbnefla.org