Empowering people
to thrive as they age.

Fraud costs Medicare an estimated $60 billion per year. It costs Medicare beneficiaries in time, stress, their medical identities, and potentially their health. It costs families, friends, and caregivers in worry and lost work when helping their loved ones recover from falling victim to Medicare fraud.

“Medicare fraud has a devastating impact on both beneficiaries and the Medicare program,” said Travis Trumitch, Director of the Illinois Senior Medicare Patrol. “We teach people how to avoid experiencing Medicare fraud. By preventing fraud from happening, this program helps individuals and protects the Medicare program for generations to come.”

Learn how to protect yourself and your loved ones by joining the Illinois Senior Medicare Patrol at the Southeast (Atlas) Regional Senior Center, 1767 E. 79th Street, Chicago, IL 60649, on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, from 10 am until 1 pm for our Fraud Fair Shred Event. We are providing free shredding for all your old Medicare Summary Notices, bills, credit card statements and any other personal items you would like to discard.

We will also have representatives on site from the Attorney General's Office, US Postal Inspection Service, AgeOptions, White Crane Wellness Center, Illinois Senior Health Insurance Program, Cook County Sherrif's Office, Illinois Treasurer's Office, Rush University Hospital/Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center and the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services.

Everyone plays a part in the fight against fraud. During Medicare Fraud Prevention Week:

• Medicare beneficiaries can monitor their insurance statements to make sure products and services received match what is on the statements. They can request free My Health Care Trackers from their local SMP.
• Caregivers can help by being on the lookout for items such as durable medical equipment (like boxes of knee braces) lying around the house that may have been shipped to the beneficiary without their or their doctor’s approval. They can remind their client or loved one to never give out their Medicare number or other personal information over the phone.
• Families can help by talking to their loved ones about protecting their Medicare number just as they would a credit card number. They can help their loved ones create a Medicare.gov account to access their Medicare statements online or remind them to open and review them when they come in the mail. They can also register their phone number on “do not call” lists and go to optoutprescreen.com to opt out of mailings.
• Partners and professionals can help by sharing SMP information on social media, referring clients and consumers to the SMP, and inviting the SMP to speak during a shared event.
• Health care providers can help by talking to patients about health care-related scams such as those related to durable medical equipment and genetic testing schemes. They can remind them that products and services should only be ordered by physicians they regularly see. Needed medical items should never be ordered through TV ads or unsolicited calls.
• Community members can help by looking out for older neighbors. When in public, they can be aware of older individuals purchasing gift cards in large amounts. They can encourage those they know to talk to a trusted source about their Medicare questions and tell neighbors about the most recent Medicare scams. They can even consider volunteering with the local SMP!

The Illinois Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) is ready to provide you with the information you need to PROTECT yourself from Medicare fraud, errors, and abuse; DETECT potential fraud, errors, and abuse; and REPORT your concerns. SMPs help educate and empower Medicare beneficiaries in the fight against health care fraud. Your SMP can help you with your questions, concerns, or complaints about potential fraud and abuse issues. It also provides information and educational presentations.

April 29, 2025, at 11:00 am – Mexican Consulate – Spanish SMP Presentation

Consulate General of Mexico

(204 S. Ashland Avenue Chicago, IL  60607) 

April 30, 2025, from 9:30 am until 2:00 pm – Active Senior Expo 

Chicago Gaelic Park

(6119 W. 147th Street Oak Forest, IL 60452) 

May 1, 2025, at 10:00 am – SMP Bingo 

West Suburban Senior Services

(439 Bohland Avenue Bellwood, IL  60104) 

May 3, 2025, at 10:00 am – Senior Fair 

Hanover Park District Community Center & Park

(1919 Walnut Avenue Hanover Park, IL  60133) 

May 5, 2025, at 1:00 pm- Tinley Park SALT - Know your Advocates: Adult Protective Services and Long-Term Care Ombudsman 

Tinley Park Police Department

(7850 W. 183rd Street Tinley Park, IL 60477) 

May 7, 2025, at 11:00 am – SMP Presentation 

Pav YMCA

(2947 S. Oak Park Avenue Berwyn, IL  60402) 

May 8, 2025, at 12:30 pm – Older Adult Market 

Pav YMCA

(2947 S. Oak Park Avenue Berwyn, IL  60402) 

May 9, 2025, at 9:00 am – Senior Fair 

Levy Senior Center

(300 Dodge Avenue Evanston, IL  60202) 

May 9, 2025, at 10:00 am – SMP Presentation and Bingo

Evergreen Park Public Library

(9400 S. Troy Avenue Evergreen Park, IL 60805) 

https://evergreenparklibrary.librarymarket.com/event/medicare-bingo-78750  

May 10, 2025, from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm – Health Fair   

Eisenhower Public Library

(4613 N. Oketo Avenue Harwood Heights, IL 60706) 

May 12,2025, at 10:00 am – SMP Presentation and Bingo 

(Registration required) 

Park District Oak Park

(220 N. Euclid Avenue Oak Park, IL 60302) 

May 13, 2025, at 11:00 am – Mexican Consulate – Spanish SMP Presentation

Consulate General of Mexico

(204 S. Ashland Avenue Chicago, IL  60607) 

May 14, 2025, at 1:00 pm – Leyden Food Pantry 

Leyden Township Hall

(2501 N. Mannheim Road Franklin Park, IL 60131) 

May 17,2025, from 10:00 am until 1:00pm – Leyden Township Community Health Fair 

Bradley A. Stephens Community Center

(2620 Mannheim Road Franklin Park, IL 60131) 

May 20, 2025, at 12:00 pm – SMP Presentation 

Wheeling Park District

(100 Community Boulevard Wheeling, IL 60090) 

May 21, 2025, from 1:00 pm until 2:00pm – SMP Presentation and Bingo

Broadview Public Library

(2226 16th Avenue Broadview, IL 60155)  

May 22, 2025, at 10:00 am – Senior Fair 

Village Commons

(2401 S. Desplaines Avenue North Riverside, IL 60546) 

May 22, 2025, at 12:30 pm – Senior Farmers Market 

Pav YMCA

(2947 S. Oak Park Avenue Berwyn, IL  60402) 

May 23, 2025, at 10:30 am- Pioneer Coalition Event with AgeGuide 

Helen Plum Library

(411 S. Main Street Lombard, IL 60148) 

May 27, 2025, at 1:00 pm – SMP Bingo 

Schaumburg Township

(1 Illinois Blvd. Hoffman Estates, IL 60169) 

May 28, 2025, at 12:00 pm – SMP Bingo

Beds Plus

(9601 E. Ogden Avenue La Grange, IL  60525) 

May 29, 2025, from 10:00 am until 12:30 pm - Congressman Quigley’s Senior Community Resource Fair 

Frisbee Senior Center

(52 E. Northwest Hwy. Des Plaines, IL 60016) 

May 30, 2025, at 11:00 AM – Senior Fair 

Chicago Heights Public Library

(25 W. 15th Street Chicago Heights, IL  60411) 

June 3, 2025, at 11:00 am – Mexican Consulate – Medicare Fraud Prevention Week- SMP Presentation

Consulate General of Mexico

(204 S. Ashland Avenue Chicago, IL  60607) 

June 4, 2025, from 10:00 am until 1:00 pm - Medicare Fraud Prevention Week Fraud Fair Shred Event

Southeast (Atlas) Regional Senior Center

(1767 E. 79th Street Chicago, IL 60649) 

April 29, 2025

Empowering people to thrive as they age.