FAQs

I was billed for a service I didn’t receive. What do I do?

• Contact the health care provider or the company that paid the bill.
• Contact the Senior Medicare Patrol of New Jersey, 732-777-1940 or  toll free hotline, 877-SMP-4359.

What if I gave out my Medicare number to a stranger?

• Contact the Senior Medicare Patrol of New Jersey, 732-777-1940 or  toll free hotline, 877-SMP-4359.
• Alert your health care providers so they can be aware of suspicious activity.
• If you notice suspicious activity on your statements, contact your health plan or provider and ask for a correction.

What if I lost my Medicare card?

• Call the Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213 and request a new card..

What if I suspect Medicare fraud?

• Report it! See the Report Fraud page of this website.

How do I know if a phone call is legitimate?

• If the call is from a charity, tell them to send you information in writing. Be sure to add that you do not give money to strangers over the telephone.
• If they are selling something and you are interested, ask for information in writing. If this is a one-time opportunity, tell them you do not make decisions over the phone.
• Ask the caller for his or her name, company name, and callback number. You can call back later to verify the legitimacy of the source and the offer.
• Most importantly, LISTEN for these red flags:
  • Are they asking for credit card information?
  • Are they asking for banking information?
  • Are they asking for personal information like your Medicare or Social Security number?
  • Do they say the offer is only good today? A real company will give you time to think and verify.
  • Do they know something about you but ask to verify that the information is correct?
  • If any of these are happening, HANG UP!

Who can I call about consumer scams that aren’t about Medicare?

• Report it to The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 877-382-4357 or online at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov.
• Report it to local law enforcement.

What if I think my loved one is getting poor quality care?

• Contact New Jersey’s Quality Improvement Organization (QIO), Livanta LLC, 866-815-5440.
  • QIOs investigate these complaints, gather facts from all parties involved, and recommend action to help providers and suppliers improve quality of care.
  • You can also visit the American Health Quality Association’s website: www.ahqa.org or use this direct URL: http://www.ahqa.org/quality-improvement-organizations/whats-next-for-qios.