California Health Advocates
January 13, 2024
(SACRAMENTO, CA) – Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP), a program of California Health Advocates (CHA) today launched a powerful new campaign to help California’s Latino and Chinese communities protect themselves from Medicare fraud, errors, and abuse. With Medicare fraud costing American taxpayers an estimated $60 billion annually, SMP’s campaign aims to educate and empower beneficiaries to be the first line of defense. By arming these communities with the tools to recognize and report fraud, CHA and SMP are helping seniors and their families reclaim control over their health care and financial security.
“Seniors – especially those who may face language barriers or social isolation – deserve to feel safe when navigating Medicare,” said Catherina Isidro, Executive Director, California Health Advocates and Statewide Director, California Senior Medicare Patrol. “This campaign empowers our families and communities with the knowledge necessary to recognize, prevent, and report fraud in order to help protect their loved ones. Together, we can preserve trust in our health care system and curb the costs impacting all of us.”
California is home to a significant population of Medicare beneficiaries with limited English proficiency: nearly 52% of Spanish-speaking and 8% of Chinese-speaking beneficiaries in the state face language challenges. These numbers are four times the national average and make it more difficult for California seniors to access and understand essential details about Medicare coverage, leaving them particularly vulnerable to fraud.
Supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Administration for Community Living, the SMP program offers confidential support to Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers nationwide. In California, SMP teams are connecting with Latino and Chinese communities through culturally tailored ads that raise awareness about fraud. These ads direct viewers to the California SMP website, where seniors can access multilingual resources on fraud prevention, participate in counseling sessions, and join educational webinars about recognizing and reporting Medicare scams.
“Our message is simple: Prevent. Detect. Report,” said Karen Fletcher, MPH, Communications and Marketing Director, California Health Advocates. “We urge seniors and their families to be informed, vigilant, and proactive. If you notice anything unusual with your Medicare coverage—whether it’s a service you didn’t receive, charges you don’t understand, or someone asking for personal information—report it. By speaking up, you help protect yourself, your community, and the integrity of Medicare.”
SMP recommends the following, proactive steps to guard against Medicare fraud, which ultimately help prevent increased premiums, higher out-of-pocket costs, and unnecessary tests or treatments:
- Only share Medicare or Social Security numbers with trusted individuals.
- Carry your Medicare card only when needed.
- Keep a personal record of medical visits and services.
- Regularly review Medicare statements for unfamiliar charges.
- Contact SMP if you spot any suspicious activity or require assistance with an issue.
For more information about the California Senior Medicare Patrol and upcoming educational opportunities, visit www.californiasmp.org. Join us in the fight against Medicare fraud by volunteering with SMP here.
About California Health Advocates
California Health Advocates is an independent non-profit organization that provides accurate and timely Medicare and related health care coverage information, education, and policy advocacy. CHA is the grantee of the California Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) project, funded by the Administration for Community Living (ACL). California SMP, and all SMPs around the country, empower and assist people with Medicare and Medicaid to avoid, detect, and report healthcare fraud. CHA also provides community organizations and government agencies with up-to-date information, and in particular to the 24 local HICAPs that provide individual benefits counseling and community education directly to Medicare beneficiaries and their families. For more information, visit its website at cahealthadvocates.org.
About Senior Medicare Patrol
California Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) is a grant-funded project administered by California Health Advocates. It is funded by the federal U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), U.S. Administration for Community Living. California SMP, and all SMPs around the country, empower and assist people with Medicare and Medicaid to avoid, detect, and report healthcare fraud. We work to both protect beneficiaries and help preserve the integrity of the Medicare and Medicaid programs by recovering and avoiding the billions of dollars typically lost to healthcare fraud each year. For more information, visit its website at californiasmp.org.