Yes, working towards preventing fraud committed by health care
providers significantly reduce costs.
Here are some simple ways you can protect yourself from health
care fraud, and keep health care costs down for everyone:
- Protect your health insurance ID card like you would a credit
card. In the wrong hands, a health insurance card is a license to
steal. Don't give out policy numbers to door-to-door salespeople,
telephone solicitors or over the Internet. Be careful about
disclosing your insurance information and if you lose your
insurance ID card, report it to your insurance company
immediately.
- Report fraud. Call your insurance company immediately if you
suspect you may be a victim of health insurance fraud. Many
insurers now offer the opportunity to report suspected fraud online
through their Website.
- Be informed. Be informed about the health care services you
receive, keep good records of your medical care, and closely review
all medical bills you receive.
- Read your policy and benefits statements. Read your policy,
Explanation of Benefits (EOB) statements and any paperwork you
receive from your insurance company. Make sure you actually
received the treatments for which your insurance was charged, and
question suspicious expenses. Are the dates of service documented
on the forms correct? Were the services identified and billed for
actually performed?
- Beware of "free" offers. Is it too good to be true? Offers of
free health care services, tests or treatments are often fraud
schemes designed to bill you and your insurance company illegally
for thousands of dollars of treatments you never received.
Health care fraud is a serious crime that affects everyone and
should concern everyone-government officials and taxpayers,
insurers and premium-payers, health care providers and patients-and
it is a costly reality that none of us can afford to overlook.