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Seniors

As a daughter, I appreciate the importance of seniors in the lives of our families and our communities.  And as a physician, I also know how much seniors, including my parents, rely on Social Security and Medicare for their well-being.  Social Security and Medicare were established decades ago to assure that seniors would have a helping hand with their living expenses and health care in retirement. 

You’ve probably heard a lot of news about Medicare this year.  Because Medicare is so important, there’s been a heated debate about its future. Unfortunately, a lot of inaccurate information and political claims have been presented as truth.  I’d like to take this opportunity to share the facts with you.

Last year, the new health care law, passed by the previous Congress and signed by President Obama, shifted approximately $500 billion out of Medicare to fund a massive new entitlement program.  We can’t afford to do that, because right now Medicare is headed for severe financial trouble.  As your Congresswoman, I have supported measures to protect Medicare benefits. For example, I voted for the budget for the federal government that was passed by the House of Representatives in April, 2011.  It calls for the funds taken away by the 2010 health law to be returned to Medicare.

Together with my colleagues in the Congressional Doctors’ Caucus, I have asked President Obama to work with us to strengthen Medicare.  I have opposed recent recommendations to cut Medicare reimbursement rates, threatening access to care. I’m working to ensure that the benefits current seniors depend on, and that are anticipated by those who will subsequently be eligible, will be sound and secure for the future.

We've hosted Medicare fraud panels to help seniors and their families detect and prevent fraud.  You, too, can help with this very important effort, and our office will be happy to assist you.  We will be holding more Medicare meetings in the coming weeks and months, so please call our office at (845) 206-4600 for more information, or if you have any other questions.


Protecting Against Medicare Fraud and Abuse

Here are some tips to help ensure that you and your benefits are protected:

1)  When you see the doctor or have a test or procedure, keep some simple notes on your calendar about what you had done.

2)  Then, when you get your claims information in the mail from Medicare, check the claims against your notes.  Have a friend or loved one help you if needed. 

3)  If you find an error, report it as soon as possible.  You can report it to Medicare at (800) HHS-TIPS, or online at www.stopmedicarefraud.gov.

4)  Protect your personal information by guarding your Medicare and Social Security Numbers. Treat them as you would treat your credit cards. If your Medicare card is lost or stolen, report it right away. Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) for a replacement.

5)  Be suspicious of free offers, especially if anyone offers you free medical equipment or services and requests your Medicare number. If it’s free, they do not need your number!


Medicare Fraud Summit

Congresswoman Hayworth, M.D. has hosted a Medicare fraud summit series for seniors in the Hudson Valley to educate Medicare recipients and their families on how to identify and help prevent Medicare fraud. For more information, or for future events, please call our offices at (845) 206-4600, or visit our website at http://hayworth.house.gov.


Important contact information for help with Medicare-related questions

The National Government Services, which is the Medicare Administrative Contractor for the State of New York, can assist with answering Medicare-related questions. Click here to visit their website and find out more information.

Medicare beneficiaries can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) for answers to Medicare and other related questions and can also resolve problems you may be having.

You may also call our district office at (845) 206-4600 where members of our team are available to help.