If you or a family member have Medicare, you know there are opportunities for unscrupulous people to try to take advantage through a variety of scams.

The Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP), through the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services, provides a great set of fraud scheme fact sheets that can help consumers recognize potential scams and protect themselves.

We have several of the fact sheets available in our office, or you can access them at kdads.ks.gov/services-programs by searching for “Fraud Schemes Fact Sheets.”

Be the first line of defense in protecting your Medicare benefits.

- Treat your Medicare card like a credit card.

Your Medicare number can be valuable to thieves who want to steal your medical identity or bill Medicare without even seeing you.

- Don’t take advice or offers of medical services from people you don’t know who call, come to your house or approach you in public.

- Read your Medicare Summary Notice or Explanation of Benefits. Look for services or equipment you didn’t receive, double charges or things your doctor didn’t order.

- Ask questions and report problems. Call the doctor or company and ask them about mistakes. Call the insurance company if you still have questions. Get help from your local SMP.

According to the Medicare Card Scams Fact Sheet, Medicare updated cards in 2018 to switch from a person’s Social Security number to a random identifier, and there are no plans to update the cards again.

You can help protect your family and neighbors by asking questions, researching fact-based answers and being aware of common scams and schemes.

Medicare Part D open enrollment began Oct. 15 and runs through Dec. 7. If you haven’t reviewed your Part D plan, this is a great time to check on the available options for the best one for your household. Give Karissa Frasier at the Cottonwood-Hays office or me a call to set up an appointment!

Keep learning. Keep showing grace and kindness!

Michelle Beran is a family and community wellness agent in the Cottonwood Extension District. For more information on this article or other K-State Extension resources, email Michelle at mberan@ksu.eduor call the Cottonwood Extension District-Barton office at 620-793-1910.