Looking to protect yourself from fraud, identity theft and scams? Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska (BCBSNE) has information for you during National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) — March 3 – 9, 2024 — and any time of the year. NCPW is a time when government agencies, consumer protection groups and organizations like BCBSNE work together to share information about consumer rights and help people learn to spot, report and avoid scams.
When it comes to protecting yourself, and your family, from health care-related fraud and scams, these three simple tips from the FBI are an easy way to get started:
- Protect your health insurance information. Treat it like a credit card. Don’t give it to others to use and be mindful when using it at the doctor’s office or pharmacy counter.
- Beware of “free” services. If you’re asked to provide your health insurance information for a “free” service, the service is probably not free and could be fraudulently charged to your insurance company.
- Check your explanation of benefits regularly. Make sure the dates, locations and services billed match what you actually received. If there’s a concern, contact your health insurance company.
And remember, if you’re a BCBSNE member and believe you’ve been the victim of health care fraud, let us know by contacting our fraud hotline at 877-632-2583 (Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.) or online anytime here.
For more information about staying safe from scams and fraud, visit ProtectTheGoodLife.Nebraska.gov, and be sure to check out their resources dedicated to avoiding health care scams and ensuring online safety.
For more articles like this, visit Insurance 101.
