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BLOG: Medicare Part D Prescription Scam Pops Up Again

By Jim Donovan: The good people at the Center for Advocacy for the Rights and Interests of the Elderly (CARIE) and the Pennsylvania Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) want to alert everyone that an old scam is popping up again and it's targeting seniors.

The Pennsylvania SMP has received calls about a prescription drug phone scam. The scammer offers a new prescription drug plan for the low price of $299 per year, then asks for checking account information and a Social Security number. The caller may deduct $299 from a victim's checking account but the drug plan offered does not exist.

If you have a senior citizen in your family, please tell them that
Medicare never solicits personal info from beneficiaries, and no one will lose coverage for not signing up for a Part D plan. Advise them to hang up the phone if they get a call like this!

Also please remind all seniors:

- Never give out your checking account, social security, or Medicare number to someone who calls you. Medicare does not allow prescription drug plans to cold call seniors.

- Always get plan information in writing. Don't let anyone pressure you into signing up for a plan over the phone.

- Check your plan statements and your bank statements for unusual charges. If you believe you may have been the victim of this scam, would like to report another health care scam, or see charges on your Medicare Summary Notice that you don't recognize, call the SMP at CARIE. They can help. The number is 1-800-356-3606

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