Medicare problems? Just call Joe
Joe Lykins called and told me about the Senior Medicare Patrol. Joe is this area’s volunteer coordinator. The service is available right here in our area to Medicare beneficiaries, designed to prevent, detect and report Medicare-based health care fraud.
The Senior Medicare Patrol puts on presentations at area get-togethers, lunches and meetings. It also offers private counseling to Medicare recipients. These people are volunteers but highly trained specialists to assist those eligible for Medicare in Idaho. You can call 800-786-5536 ext. 232. Joe’s group covers the five northern counties from the local office. The Idaho Commission on Aging covers the entire state from other district offices.
If you’re having trouble understanding your Medicare statements or charges, or if you feel like someone is trying to scam you, call Joe and you’ll get some expert help — at no charge.
•••
TINY WRITING & FAST TALKERS: There ought to be a law.
Whenever you see tiny writing on your television screen under an advertisement for a product or service, you’d better BEWARE! The writing is what’s known as a disclaimer.
“A disclaimer is generally any statement intended to specify or delimit the scope of rights and obligations that may be exercised and enforced by parties in a legally recognized relationship. In contrast to other terms for legally operative language, the term disclaimer usually implies situations that involve some level of uncertainty, waiver, or risk,” according to Wikipedia. Disclaimers don’t always limit your rights under the law. Often “the presence of a disclaimer in a legally binding agreement does not necessarily guarantee that the terms of the disclaimer will be recognized and enforced in a legal dispute. There may be other legal considerations that render a disclaimer void either in whole or part.”
In any event, understand when you see a disclaimer that the offering party is attempting to limit their liability to you. My rule is that if you can’t read it — don’t buy it. This keeps me out of a lot of trouble. Follow my rule and you too will probably avoid a lot of trouble.
Within the past couple of years, some “bright boys and girls” who write radio advertising have started a movement to attempt to use audio/verbal disclaimers. Unfortunately, if the entire disclaimer were read so the average person could understand the disclaimer language, it would take up almost all of the 30- or 60-second radio spot.
What did they do? They had an announcer record the disclaimer at normal speaking speed and than sped up the playback so it would fit within the commercial’s length. Unfortunately, this makes the verbiage all but unintelligible to any normal person with decent hearing. For those of us who are slightly deaf — forget it! It sounds like Alvin the Chipmunk on crack.
If you’re thinking about buying a good or service advertised using “fast disclaimer” language, ask the merchant for a written copy of text of the entire disclaimer.
•••
LOOKS LIKE YOU NEED A NEW ROOF — FOR FREE: A number of roofing contractors are traveling through our area, knocking on doors or calling on the phone, offering new roofs to homeowners — for free! They’re telling homeowners that all they have to do to get a free roof is to turn the bill for the new roof in to their insurance company.
Before falling for this one, call your insurance company directly and ask the company to send out their adjuster to determine the damage to your roof and whether you need a whole new roof or just a repair.
Just because the guy selling roofs tells you that you need a new roof doesn’t mean you really do. If it turns out you don’t, and didn’t get it authorized in ADVANCE by your insurance carrier, you’re likely to be on the hook for the whole enchilada.
•••
I GOT MY NEW MEDICARE CARD: The other day, I received my new Medicare card — sans (that means without) my Social Security number on it. Medicare decided there was too much fraud generated by having Social Security numbers on the Medicare cards. Now there are none.
Notice I didn’t say someone “called me” as part of the card replacement process. Medicare does not call you directly. Just imagine how many Americans are on Medicare (the number is about 44 million). It would take millions of government employees calling recipients. There are only 2.79 million federal government employees in civil service jobs. The numbers just don’t permit the Social Security Administration to call you about your new card.
LESSON: If you get a call from anyone representing themselves as working for the Social Security Administration — HANG UP! It’s an attempt to scam and defraud you.
•••
OLD EMAIL ADDRESSES = NEW SCAM: Recently, scammers using old email addresses are attempting to lure you into revealing information about your finances, including current account numbers, balances and passwords. If you get an email using an old email address — delete it immediately. Don’t open any attachments — EVER!
•••
NOMOROBO AVAILABLE FREE FROM SPECTRUM: Nomorobo, an anti-robo call application, is reportedly available to those who get their phone service from Spectrum.
•••
IF YOU WANT IT AND CAN’T AFFORD IT: Don’t fall victim to one of the worst deals out there.
There are a couple of companies advertising nationally, attempting to entice consumers to contract for things they can’t afford by letting them pay for it week-by-week. Unfortunately, if you miss one payment, you’ve broken the contract. Penalties range from all monies due under the contract being immediately due and payable, and in some instances, the company will immediately reposses the television or the washer and dryer purchased on the weekly payment contract.
MY BEST ADVICE: Don’t sign up with these people. Save up your money and then purchase what you can afford — not necessarily what you want right now. Study after study has shown that people who understand this principle — delayed gratification — usually do better in life over the years.
Also, one misstep with a company like this can destroy your credit rating for years.
•••
REMEMBER BILL BROOKS: “He’s On Your Side”
•••
I have many more tips and interesting cases that I’m working on. Call me at 208-699-BILL. You can follow me at www.billbrooks.us. I am available to speak about consumerism to schools and civic groups. Bill Brooks is a consumer advocate who lives in Coeur d’Alene with his proofreader, Bobbi (who is also his wife).