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.

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) 

June 11, 2025, at 1:00 pm – Bilingual SMP presentation 

Northlake Public Library District

(231 N Wolf Road Northlake, IL  60164) 

June 10, 2025, at 10:00 am – Senior Expo 

Rivers Casino

(3000 S River Road Des Plaines, IL  60018) 

June 12, 2025, at 11:00 am – Recognizing and Avoiding Fraud and Scams 

Linda Sokol Frances Brookfield Library

(3541 Park Avenue Brookfield IL 60513) 

June 14, 2025, from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm – Health Fiesta

Hawthorn Mall

(122 Hawthorn Center Vernon Hills, IL  60061) 

June 16, 2025, at 1:00 pm– Don't get Taken- Scam Prevention for Older Adults 

Evanston Public Library

(1703 Orrington Avenue Evanston, IL 60201) 

June 17, 2025, at 10:00 am – Senior Fair 

Seniors Assistance Center

(7774 W Irving Park Road Norridge IL 60706). 

June 17, 2025, at 5:00 pm - Recognizing and Avoiding Fraud and Scams 

Hometown Ladwig Library

(4331 Southwest Highway Hometown IL. 60456).  

June 18, 2025, at 1:00 pm – Spanish SMP Presentation 

Clyde Park

(1909 S Laramie Avenue Cicero, IL 60804) 

June 18, 2025, from 9:30 am until 2:00 pm – Active Senior Expo 

White Eagle Banquets

(6839 N. Milwaukee Avenue Niles, IL 60714) 

June 25, 2025, at 12:00 pm - SMP Presentation  

Senior Services Associates

(2111 Plum Street First Floor Aurora, IL 60506) 

June 26, 2025, at 12:30 pm – Older Adult Market 

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

July 2, 2025, at 10:00 am – SMP Presentation 

Hanover Township

(250 S Il Route 59 Bartlett, IL  60103) 

July 2, 2025, at 11:30 am – Spanish SMP Bingo 

Our Lady of Mt Carmel Catholic Church

(1101 N 23rd Avenue Melrose Park, IL  60160) 

May 27, 2025

Empowering people to thrive as they age.