Medicare Fraud Alert - Read & Heed,
Verified at medicare.org
This is pretty important to get to people with Medicare, their families and friends or adult kids who help parents with Medicare:
Have just gotten word about the newest Medicare scam.
Here's what you need to know to protect yourself, family and friends throughout the US:
Starting 4/1/18 Medicare will start a year long project to replace all current Medicare cards for beneficiaries to convert to alphanumeric ID numbers. Currently the ID number is your social security number.
First of all the new Medicare card will come to you in the mail.
You don't need to request it or do anything. It will show up.
WHAT'S THE SCAM?
Somebody from "MEDICARE " will call to tell you you are getting a new Medicare card. But until it comes you will need a temporary card. Fee for the card is between $5-50 dollars. They want personal information, bank account or credit card so they can process your temporary card.
THINGS TO REMEMBER
Medicare will never call you unless you ask them to.
Medicare does all communications by mail unless you ask them to call.
Ditto for anybody saying they "work with Medicare to make sure you get everything you are entitled to" . Scammer alert
HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THIS ONE?
First of all spread the word. Feel free to share these notes.
Use your answering machine to screen calls or just don't even answer a number you don't recognize.
If it has happened to you or your friends or loved ones and personal info had been given out (happens considerably more often than you think so don't feel bad or stupid ) immediately take action to protect yourself against identity theft.
How To Get Free Hearing Aids
Did you know veterans who are enrolled in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system may be eligible to receive free hearing aids, glasses or contact lenses? These “sensorineural aids” are provided at no charge to veterans who are determined to need the devices, even if the veteran is not “service-connected” for hearing or vision impairment.
Such services are considered part of the preventative care package for all veterans enrolled in VA health care system who meet certain eligibility criteria.
For some veterans, there may be a $50 co-pay depending on the veteran’s enrollment priority group status. There is no co-pay for the devices or the batteries, nor are there any charges for visits for the purpose of adjusting, repairing or modifying hearing aids and/or glasses.
New Website for Veterans
The new website 'Mental Health First Aid for Veterans' gives family members and others the tools to recognize and respond to the warning signs of mental illness and addiction. The National Council for Behavioral Health, which sponsors the website, says 30 percent of the men and women who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan require treatment for mental health issues. Yet, less than 50 percent of these veterans receive any treatment. Mental Health First Aid teaches participants a five-step action plan. For more information, visit the Military First Aid website and scroll down to "FIND A COURSE" to search for upcoming training near you and links to mental health care organizations.
Survivors Pension
The survivors pension benefit is a tax-free monetary benefit payable to a low income, un-remarried, surviving spouse and/or unmarried child of a deceased veteran with wartime service.
To qualify, the deceased veteran must have met the following service requirements:
· For service on or before September 7, 1980, the veteran must have served at least 90 days of active military service, with at least one day during a VA recognized wartime period.
· If the veteran entered active duty after September 7,1980, 24 months of active duty with at least one day during a VA recognized war time period.
· Was discharged from service under other than dishonorable conditions.
Survivors pension is also based on your yearly family income, which must be less than the amount set by Congress to qualify.
New Appeals Tracker Tool
Recently, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) launched a new online tool that allows veterans to keep track of their claims appeal. The new online tool is called the “Appeals Status Tracker” and it has been designed to allow veterans with a disability compensation appeal to track what stage of the process their appeal is currently in.
The idea of the new online tool is to increase trust with veterans and create a platform for transparency, according to VA officials.
The soft launch was initiated March 20, 2018, on Vets.gov. Using the new online tool will allow veterans to see past and current appeals issues, create deadline alerts, see what’s coming next in the appeals process, and how long it should take to get to each step in the appeals process.