Empowering people
to thrive as they age.

Brace Scams Show No Signs

of Slowing Down in Illinois

Durable Medical Equipment (DME) scams have been around for a long time. Even during the pandemic, scammers never let up on these phone scams that would offer beneficiaries "free" braces. 

How the scam works is that call centers are used to up-sell or give "free" braces to beneficiaries regardless of if they need them. These call centers then allegedly give kickbacks to telemedicine companies for the DME orders. The telemedicine companies then will allegedly pay doctors to write the medically unnecessary DME orders. Doctors are needed to sign off on the orders in order for Medicare to pay for the braces.

The Illinois SMP is here to offer assistance if you feel you have been affected by any potential Medicare fraud, please call the Illinois SMP at AgeOptions at (800)699-6043.

Please visit www.illinoissmp.org to download all of our tip sheets to help prevent, detect, and report Medicare fraud.

Feb 18, 2025, at 10:00 am – SALT SMP Presentation 

Lemont Community Center (16300 Alba Street Lemont, IL 60439) 

February 21st at 1:00 pm – SMP Presentation and Bingo (Residents Only)

Pines of Edgewater (5439 N. Kenmore Ave. Chicago, IL 60640) 

February 24, 2025, from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm – SMP Presentation and Bingo  

Des Plaines Public Library (1501 Ellinwood St. Des Plaines, IL 60016) 

February 27, 2025, at 1:00 pm – Resource Fair 

Waukegan Township (414 S Lewis Ave. Waukegan, IL 60085)

February 28, 2025, at 10:00 am – Spanish SMP Presentation 

Hanover Township (250 S Il Rte. 59 Bartlett, IL  60103) 

March 3, 2025, at 11:00 am – SMP Presentation and Bingo

Acorn Public Library District (15624 Central Avenue Oak Forest, IL 60452) 

March 4, 2025, at 7:00 pm - SMP Presentation and Bingo  

Prairie Trails Public Library (8449 S. Moody Avenue Burbank, IL 60459) 

March 5, 2025, at 1:00 pm – SMP Presentation 

Blue Island Public Library (2433 York Street Blue Island, IL  60406) 

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

Oak Lawn Public Library (9427 Raymond Ave. Oak Lawn, IL 60453) 

March 12, 2025, from 9:30 am until 2:00 pm – Active Senior Expo

Lorena’s Banquets (543 W. Lake Street Addison, IL 60101) 

March 12, 2025, at 1:00 pm – SMP Presentation 

Tinley Park Public Library (7851 Timber Drive Tinley Park, IL  60477) 

March 19, 2025, at 1:00 pm – SMP Presentation 

Blue Island Public Library (2433 York St. Blue Island, IL  60406) 

March 24, 2025, at 11:30 am – SMP Presentation and Bingo 

Brookfield Colgrass Cafe (9022 31st St. Brookfield, Il 60513) 

March 25, 2025, from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm – SMP Presentation and Bingo 

Flossmoor Public Library (1000 Sterling Ave. Flossmoor, IL 60422) 

March 27,2025, at 1:00 pm – SMP Presentation 

Centennial Park (100 S Western Ave. Park Ridge, IL  60068-3872) 

March 28, 2025, from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm SMP Presentation for TRIAD Event (Closed Invite)

Hanover Township Senior Services (240 Illinois Rte. 59 Bartlett, IL 60103) 

February 18, 2025

Empowering people to thrive as they age.