By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    stress disorder
    5 Ways To Manage Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
    October 27, 2021
    Medical device classification and development strategies
    Medical device classification and development strategies
    April 5, 2023
    varicose veins
    Varicose Veins Prevention: 3 Lifestyle Changes to Make Right Now
    May 1, 2022
    Latest News
    How Probate Planning Shapes the Future of Your Estate and Family Care
    July 17, 2025
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    How People Are Taking Advantage of Health Deals in the Recent Recession
    February 5, 2021
    Florida Board of Medicine Declares Arizona Homeopathic Doctor “Very, Very Dangerous”
    October 29, 2018
    6 Ways to Make Sure You’re Detoxing Properly
    July 26, 2018
    Latest News
    How IT and Marketing Teams Can Collaborate to Protect Patient Trust
    July 17, 2025
    How Health Choices and Legal Actions Intersect After an Injury
    July 17, 2025
    How communities and healthcare providers can address slip and fall injuries with legal awareness
    July 17, 2025
    Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
    July 6, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Look Out For These Key Signs Of Healthcare Fraud Targeting Seniors
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > Health care > Look Out For These Key Signs Of Healthcare Fraud Targeting Seniors
Health carePublic HealthWellness

Look Out For These Key Signs Of Healthcare Fraud Targeting Seniors

Ben Hartwig
Ben Hartwig
Share
5 Min Read
SHARE

 

Contents
The main types of healthcare fraud include:How to spot fraud:Final Thoughts

The senior population in the US is on the rise: In 2012, fewer than 20% of the U.S. populace was over 60. But by 2050, people over age 60 are expected to make up 25-29% of the U.S. population.

Seniors are a vulnerable group for scams in general, and even more, targeted by common healthcare fraud scams. Seniors are generationally conditioned to be polite, are often seeking human interaction. They tend to be interested in products promising increased cognitive function, higher energy and stamina, physical conditioning, cancer-preventing properties, and other similar attributes. In a country where medical advances for the treatment and prevention of old diseases have given us hope for a long and fruitful life, it can be believed that the scammers’ products and services can deliver on what they promise.

The main types of healthcare fraud include:

1. Medical Equipment Scams

More Read

Tackling the Side Effects of Parkinson’s Treatment
Are Emergency Rooms Admitting Too Many Patients?
A Guide to Securing Your Long-Term Health After a Car Accident
Health & Safety in the Workplace – Essential Guidelines for Employers
The Organic Foods Scam

Medical equipment vendors call to offer “free” products. Insurance companies are then billed for products that were not needed or not even carried out, in the name of the person being scammed.

  • Prevention Tip: doing a reverse phone number search after the call can be a reliable way to vet the caller and easily determine if they are scammers.

2. Services Not Performed

Customers or health care providers may bill insurers for services that were not ever provided.

  • Prevention Tip: carefully review your and your loved ones’ medical insurance Explanations of Benefits mailings, and call your insurance to report any services you or they did not receive. Keep accurate records of all health care appointments.

3. “Rolling Lab” Schemes:

Illegitimate or unnecessary tests given to seniors at fitness facilities, assisted living facilities, malls or other venues where seniors congregate and then get billed to their insurance companies or Medicare.

  • Prevention Tip: utilize a network of trusted medical providers for all medical testing and procedures. Ask your primary care provider about any tests that are offered before accepting, and have them performed at trusted medical facilities.

4. Medicare Fraud

Senior citizens are regularly targeted with Medicare fraud situations, often by medical supply manufacturers who offer seniors free items in exchange for information about their Medicare account. Since doctors have to provide signatures confirming that this equipment or procedure is medically necessary before Medicare pays for it, scammers will go as far as faking signatures or bribing corrupt medical providers to sign the forms. Once these scammers have a signature, the manufacturers might bill Medicare for a product or service that was not needed or even requested. This is a growing problem in the US: in 2017, over 400 defendants, in 41 federal districts, were charged with partaking in fraud schemes that involved about $1.3 billion in false billings to Medicare and Medicaid.

  • Prevention Tip: Keep your Medicare card in a secure place, and only provide the card number to trusted health care providers. Do not do business with direct telephone or door-to-door vendors who offer free medical goods or services. Never sign blank insurance claim forms.

How to spot fraud:

It is important to look out for seniors in your family and community and educate them about how to spot health care fraud. Being proactive can help them avoid becoming victims of scams. When an elderly person becomes a victim of healthcare fraud, he or she may be hesitant to report the crime, so reviewing their medical bills and explanations of benefits with them can help. Here are some signs of elder health care fraud:

  • Duplicate medical statements/bills
  • Evidence of inadequate care in hospitals or nursing facilities
  • False use of healthcare information
  • Inappropriate billing of services or medical equipment
  • Incorrect information on the explanation of benefit paperwork
  • Incorrect provider, date, or location of services on health care claims
  • The waiving of copayments, coinsurance or deductibles
  • Overmedicating or under medicating of patients
  • Providing inadequate/substandard care after full payment
  • Inadequately trained staff at health care facilities
  • Overcrowding at health care facilities
  • Response to questions about care, devices or procedures

Final Thoughts

By becoming savvy in recognizing elder health care scams, we can all help avoid and address scams that target our seniors and our health insurance systems. By reporting suspected fraud, we not only help the elder population, but we also help to keep our health care costs from increasing.

TAGGED:health insurancehealthcare fraudinsuranceMedicaidMedicare
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share
By Ben Hartwig
Follow:
Ben is a Digital Overlord and Chief Security Officer at InfoTracer who takes a wide view from whole system. He authors guides on entire security posture, both physical and cyber. Enjoys sharing the best practices and does it the right way!

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
How IT and Marketing Teams Can Collaborate to Protect Patient Trust
Global Healthcare Policy & Law
July 17, 2025
paramedics in surgical gloves and masks
How Health Choices and Legal Actions Intersect After an Injury
Health care
July 16, 2025
a woman giving a key
How Probate Planning Shapes the Future of Your Estate and Family Care
Health
July 16, 2025
a woman with kinesio tapes on her back arm
How communities and healthcare providers can address slip and fall injuries with legal awareness
Health care
July 16, 2025

You Might also Like

how to cut health-care costs
BusinessFinancePublic Health

Saving Money: Paying Cash for Health Care Even If You’re Insured

September 9, 2014
healthcare for aging population
Health ReformPolicy & LawPublic Health

Another Reason to Take Care of Yourself: There Will Be No One Left to Do It

September 23, 2013
Health careHome HealthMental Health

Mental Health And Debt: How Are They Associated

July 29, 2019

Medicaid: Not Just for the Poor Anymore

March 7, 2011
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?