Senior Medicare Patrol
Our Purpose
In 2010, we partnered with the Utah Department of Aging Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) program in Salt Lake City. Our purpose is to focus on prevention, with a mission of empowering Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers to prevent, detect, and report health care fraud and identity theft, errors, and abuse through outreach and education.
The SMP is a national program for people with Medicare of all ages. SMP is administered by the Administration for Community Living. To learn more, volunteer or to locate your local Senior Medicare Patrol please call 1-877-808-2468 or visit https://www.smpresource.org.
Do you think you are a victim of Medicare fraud or abuse?
If you need help contacting your local SMP, fill out the form here: https://smpresource.news/Contact
If you need help contacting your local SMP, fill out the form here: https://smpresource.news/Contact
With the Northern Utah Coalition, Inc. (NUC) and the Utah Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) collaboration, we offer a one hour or less FREE Protecting Medicare and You from Identity Theft presentation to your business or organization. For more information or to schedule a presentation, call Monday-Thursday, 9:00 am-5:00 pm at (801) 393.4153.
Worried about the out-of-pocket costs associated with Medicare? Contact your SHIP to find out about assistance programs you or your loved one might be eligible for. Visit www.shiphelp.org/about-medicare/regional-ship-location to contact the SHIP in your area.
Reference: www.smpresource.org
August 17, 2023
You’ll get your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) every 3 months if you get any services or medical supplies during that 3-month period. Why wait? Choose eMSNs to get an email every month when MSNs are available in your Medicare account. Learn how to sign up: https://go.medicare.gov/3NQFtfq or www.smpresource.org
August 17, 2023
Every state including Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and D.C. have a Senior Medicare Program (SMP). The state locator has so much information about the SMP like their website, toll-free, and links to their social media. Find your state: https://smpresource.org/locator/
August 16, 2023
Tired of waiting for your Medicare information to arrive by mail? First, create an online Medicare account. Then, sign up to get your “Medicare & You” handbook and Medicare claims statements online!
July 5, 2023
If you have questions about Medicare billing, charges, reading your statements, or learning how to spot fraud, the Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) can help! Find your SMP by using the state locator at smpresource.org.
July 3, 2023
Turning 65 Soon? Congratulations!!!
Medicare: Where Do You Start?
WELCOME TO MEDICARE ARCHIVED TRAINING
Reference https://www.shiphelp.org/about-medicare/news or https://www.smpresource.org/
Watch short recordings on what you need to know when you are new to Medicare. In June 2021, expert trainers from the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) national network present on Medicare eligibility, enrollment, costs, and coverage options. National experts from Social Security, Medicare, the Senior Medicare Patrol, and the National Council on Aging also presented on the federal government's role in Medicare, avoiding Medicare fraud, and Medicare cost assistance programs. Information from this event that is still relevant has been retained on our YouTube channel. Questions? Contact us at info@shiphelp.org.
ENROLLING IN MEDICARE THROUGH SOCIAL SECURITY
This fact sheet helps you understand how to enroll in Medicare through the Social Security Administration and how your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) can help.
June 5, 2023
SHIP isn’t just for people new to Medicare. Needs and options may change over time, so it’s important to review your Medicare plan every year during Open Enrollment beginning in October 2023. SHIP can help you understand and compare options, so you can make choices that are best for you and your loved ones. Find out more at www.shiphelp.org!
May 25, 2023
Social Security Online Access
Did you know you can manage your Social Security online by creating a my Social Security account?
Reference: www.smpresource.org
January 31, 2023
my Social Security is a secure account that puts you in control with access to your information from any device. Encourage a family member to create their personal my Social Security account today: http://ow.ly/AQVz50L1iTX.
My Healthcare Tracker Booklet & Tools
Reference: www.smpresource.org
May 30, 2023
My Health Care Trackers are fraud-fighting tools that are available for free to beneficiaries through the SMP program. The trackers help beneficiaries prevent, detect, and report suspected Medicare fraud, errors, or abuse.
My Health Care Trackers offer:
A place for people to record health care products and services received and take notes about appointments
Instructions on how to compare the health care services, tests, and/or medical equipment items documented in the tracker to what was billed on their Medicare statements
*This may reduce the amount the beneficiary owes
*This may detect if medical identities have been stolen
*Finding and reporting inaccuracies when reading Medicare statements protects the Medicare program for generations to come
A list of important contacts, such as Medicare and Social Security
An explanation about SMP work, including how SMPs work with people one-on-one, educate them in group education and exhibits, and engage volunteers
A description about volunteering for SMP, including all the roles that volunteers perform
A page about the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), including when and how to contact the SHIP
To receive your My Health Care Tracker, contact your local SMP by calling 877-808-2468, using the state locator button at smpresource.org, or by emailing info@smpresource.org.
SMP Consumer Fraud Alert
Have you ever wondered what the difference is between fraud, errors, or abuse? This scale of intent can help show the difference. #MedicareFraud #SeniorMedicarePatrol #PreventDetectReport
August 17, 2023
Have you heard the term DME before? DME stands for durable medical equipment: things like back braces and wheelchairs. DME scams are a huge cost to Medicare.
Share this video with your friends and family to help protect them against DME scams!
To report suspected Medicare fraud, error, or abuse, contact your Senior Medicare Patrol at 1-877-808-2468 or visit www.smpresource.org.
July 10, 2023
To find your local SMP and learn more about Medicare fraud, use the locator button at www.smpresource.org or call 877.808.2468. To learn more about LGBTQ+ services for older adults, contact SAGE.
#hivtesting #knowyourstatus #ogden #lgbtq🌈 #utah #hivprevention
It is so important to review your or your loved one's Medicare Summary Notices, known as MSNs, for false claims or potential scams. Sometimes you might get a delivery like COVID-19 tests or a knee brace that makes you aware something isn't right.
However, not every scam has a physical delivery and is just claims on your statements, making them less obvious. The only way to know about these is to check your MSN.
Key words to look for on your Medicare statements would be:
diabetic supplies, hospice, therapy, urine analysis, genetic tests, orthotics, telehealth, telephone, or virtual visit
To learn more about reading your MSN and how to report something that seems odd, visit https://smpresource.news/ReadMSN
July 7, 2023
If you get a call from someone offering a service or product and say Medicare will cover it, it’s a scam.
Scammers may have illegally gotten your Medicare number. Either don't answer the phone (let them leave a message!) or hang up and report the call to the #SeniorMedicarePatrol and to Medicare that your number has been compromised.
June 26, 2023
NEWS:
Recent proposals in Congress would drastically impact Medicare beneficiaries by linking U.S. health care costs to foreign countries and encouraging government price controls. We ask Sen. Mike Lee, Sen. Mitt Romney, Rep. Rob Bishop, Rep. Chris Stewart, Rep. John Curtis and Rep. Ben McAdams to actively oppose any policies that would be harmful to Utah’s nearly 390,000 Medicare beneficiaries. Utah's representatives should support patient-centered reforms that cap out-of-pocket drug spending in Medicare Part D and ensure pharmaceutical discounts negotiated by insurance companies are shared with patients at the pharmacy counter.
SMP Newsletters
August 2023
April 2023
March 2023
