We recently heard of a scam targeting military retirees with coverage through TriCare and Medicare. Callers contact retirees saying that if authorized, they can guarantee a full military funeral paid by Medicare. All they need is your Medicare number.
This is a scam. Medicare does not pay for military funerals. These scammers just want to get your Medicare number so they can sell it and/or bill Medicare for services or supplies never rendered.
Qualified veterans are entitled to a military burial benefit, but this is through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), not through Medicare. See the VA’s webpage on Memorial Benefits for more information.
If you come across this scam, see if you can first gather the name of the caller, company and his/her number before hanging up. Then report it to our California Senior Medicare Patrol at 1-855-613-7080.
Thank you!
