The Qualified Medicare Beneficiary Program (QMB), which many older American are enrolled in, prohibits doctors, suppliers and other providers from billing QMB enrollees for Medicare costs when they receive covered services.
Yet many older consumers and people with disabilities are reporting that debt collectors repeatedly attempted to collect these types of bills, or sent this information to credit reporting companies.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Office for Older Americans and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have three tips to help older consumers deal with these wrongful bills:
1. Tell the provider or debt collector that you are enrolled in the QMB Program and can’t be charged for Medicare deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments.
Show your Medicare and QMB or Medicaid cards each time you get medical services or items. If the provider bills you anyway, explain that you are enrolled in QMB and can’t be charged for Medicare costs. You have the right to a refund for any payments you’ve already made.
2. Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) if the medical provider won’t stop billing you, or refuses to issue a refund. TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048.
The agent can confirm that you are enrolled in the QMB Program. Medicare can also ask the provider to stop improper billing and to refund any incorrect payments you made.
3. If you have a problem with debt collection, you can submit a complaint online or call the CFPB at 1-855-411-2372. TTY/TDD users can call 1-855-729-2372.
Follow this link for more information on what to do if you’re wrongfully billed for Medicare costs.
Source: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau