Ezratty: Rebate on Medicare premium available, but be cautious

Question: I continue to get many calls asking about how they can get a monthly $144 giveback for Medicare on their Social Security check, as advertised on TV.

Answer: The first “not so good” thing is when you call the advertised phone number on the commercial and then provide your information, you automatically give them the right to sell your personal information to predatory insurance practitioners. In turn, they will probably bombard you with phone calls; each trying to get you to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan of their choice. Ads on TV claiming to get you $144 back each month are only a teaser for you to call in order to get your personal information.

Beware — telephone scammers are on the loose. Bill Blaney, the State Health Insurance Assistance Program Senior Medicare Patrol coordinator, tells us that Medicare’s losses run to $60 billion due to fraud, misconduct and misunderstandings. We do not want to add to those numbers. Mistakes and misunderstandings are easily resolved by researching and coming to terms with Medicare rules and regulations. Cases of deliberate scams are difficult to track down and are a threat to each one of us.  

The $144 mentioned in the commercials is specifically designed only for low-income Medicare beneficiaries who are entitled to have their monthly Medicare Part B premium of $144.60 paid for by Medicaid — Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System — which is a joint federal and state program. If your income is less than $1,456 per month, you may be entitled to one of the AHCCCS programs. For more information, contact your SHIP counselor to assist you in applying for benefits. Also, you can refer to your Medicare handbook, “Medicare and You.” While you have your handbook out, check the back pages for a compilation of 2021 Medicare Advantage plans available to you in Maricopa County. Another bit of information for seniors receiving Social Security benefits of less than $783 per month for2020 may be eligible to receive Supplemental Security Income as well. Apply for SSI benefits at Social Security. 

A reminder that open enrollment to change Medicare Advantage Plans and stand alone Part D Drug Plans ended Dec. 7. During this time be especially aware of scam calls. Medicare officials will never call you at random and ask for personal information. The only occasion that Medicare or Social Security representatives will ever call you is if you contacted them on an issue and they are returning your call. Medicare officials will never knock on your door stating they are representatives of Medicare. If they provide ID, know even that is fraudulent. If they offer to change your plan for you, or offer free COVID testing, stop, think and do not provide any personal information.

To file a Medicare fraud complaint, call Bill Blaney, Senior Medicare Patrol. at  602-241-5569. Free Medicare consultations are available to you from SHIP.

If you need free Medicare assistance, call me at 623-866-4214.

Editor’s Note: Roberta Ezratty is a certified SHIP counselor.