The Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) counsels Medicare beneficiaries and caregivers about:

 

• Medicare Health Coverage                                                                       

• Medicare supplements                                                             

• Medicare Advantage                                                                       

• Medicare Part D.                                                                                        

 

The counselors provide free and unbiased information regarding Medicare health care products. We also help people recognize and prevent Medicare billing errors and possible fraud and abuse through our NC SMP Program.  Extra Help application assistance can also be provided to lower prescription cost for Medicare Beneficiaries.  

 

Annual Election Period October 15th – December 7th

 

State SHIIP Contact: (855)408-1212 (toll free)

 

www.ncdoi.com/SHIIP  

 

The North Carolina Senior Medicare Patrol (NCSMP) Program is housed within the Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) at the North Carolina Department of Insurance. NCSMP is a preventive educational program whose goal is to reduce Medicare error, fraud and abuse through statewide coordinated efforts of educational and promotional activities and to encourage reporting of discrepancies by Medicare beneficiaries and caregivers to the NCSMP Program.

 

NCSMP’s purpose is to educate Medicare beneficiaries and caregivers about Medicare benefits in order to understand Medicare Statements such as Medicare Summary Notices, Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) Explanations of Benefits (EOB) and other related health care statements. Through this knowledge, a person can identify, resolve and/or report possible billing errors, fraud, abuse and waste to NCSMP.

 

Did you know?     

                                                                  

• 68 billion dollars of the taxpayers’ money is lost annually to billing discrepancies, fraud, abuse and waste in the Medicare program?

 

• “Fraud and abuse” in the Medicare program often times are actually billing errors or discrepancies?

 

• The process of reporting suspected fraud abuse and waste is to contact the provider to seek resolution;
  to contact their Medicare carriers and insurance companies and to file an appeal by following the appeal instructions found on the back of the Medicare Summary Notice?

 

• And if your situation is not resolved satisfactorily, you should contact the North Carolina SMP Program at the nationwide toll free number, 855-408-1212?

 

Remember to:

 

• Review your Medicare statements

• Protect your Medicare number

• Do not be influenced by advertising for services, medications or products that sound “too good to be true”

• Educate yourself about your Medicare benefits rarely are Medicare services “free”

• Medicare does not solicit door-to-door

 

Protect...Detect...Report

 

Contact NCSMP at:

855-408-1212 (toll free)