1. The suspected Medicare fraud you report must be proven as potential fraud by the Program Safeguard Contractor, the Zone Program Integrity Contractor, or the Medicare Drug Integrity Contractor (the Medicare contractors that investigate potential fraud and abuse) and formally referred as part of a case by one of the contractors to the Office of Inspector General for further investigation.

2. You aren’t an excluded individual. This means you cannot have been a part of the fraud that is being reported. You also can’t qualify for another government reward through another program.

3. Law enforcement cannot be investigating the person you report already.

4. Medicare has to have saved at least $100 by the report of your fraud.

To give you an idea of the service and treatment you can expect you will see a 1-star (poor) or a 5-star (excellent) to measure the service. You may have a hard time finding a 5-star center but the following information should help you in your quest.

• You can go to www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan for the overall plan star ratings.

• Only if it is available in your area can you join a 5-star Medicare Advantage Plan.

• Once a year is the limit to the special enrollment period for changing to a 5-star plan.

• A Medicare Cost Plan cannot be joined during this period.

1. October 1-15, 2011: At this point your option is to compare what you currently have to what is available to you so you can decide between your choices.

2. October 15-December 7, 2011: You can select your 2012 prescription drug coverage at this point as it is the true open enrollment period. Changing this may be available at a few other times in life as well.

3. January 1, 2012: Your coverage will begin on this date if you switched coverage options. There are new costs and benefits for you to take in if you want to keep your Medicare health and prescription coverages accurate.

Asking local experts around you about the changes is strongly encouraged, though the above information is accurate for 2012 Medicare.

Your doctor may choose many different approaches to diagnosing and treating your potential types of cancer and you would have to consult them to find out what is necessary.  Medicare covers most of these tests, including the fecal occult blood test in the event that it is necessary to detect and fight your cancerous condition.

Medicare covers this lab test once every 12 months for people age 50 or older.  In 2011, YOU pay $0 for this test, but you generally have to pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for the doctor’s visit. The Part B deductible doesn’t apply.

• Medicare covers these screening tests for cervical, vaginal and breast cancers once every 24 months, or once every 12 months for women at high risk, and for women of child-bearing age who have had an exam that indicated cancer or other abnormalities in the past 3 years.  Your doctor could possibly explain all of this in better detail if you bring up your concerns about the procedures.
• No cost to you for the Pap lab test that is needed to complete the testing that you are getting.  You do, however, pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for Pap test specimen collection, and pelvic and breast exams.  This is where the health insurance rules and regulations tend to get a little bit tricky, make sure you know what you are supposed to be charged for and what you are not.

A letter from the SSA (Social Security Administration) will arrive if you are allowed to enroll earlier than your schedule Medicare enrollment date. You may receive a check or the letter may just tell you directly the date that you became eligible for the coverage. You should contact the Social Security Administration as soon as possible if you receive this check for possible disability benefits.

You will not have your benefits card so you could see some problems when you start to enroll in the benefits. Really the situation is more simple than it appears as all you have to do is have your health care provider submit the information to Medicare. Later on in your relationship with Medicare you will receive information about this invoice.

If you are still covered by an employer or union group health plan or through your spouse’s employer you can enroll in the special enrollment period.  Or, if you are in the 8 months following the month when the employer or union group health plan coverage ended or when the employment ends.  This may be confusing, but a Medicare specialist at your state insurance office should be able to provide guidance.

Talk to your benefits office to help you decide when to enroll in your Part B coverage if you are working and plan to keep your employer’s group health coverage.  There are some other things, such as your Medigap coverage, that could be affected if you have made this decision.  As with any decision involving your Medicare enrollment you should consult an expert before making any final decisions.

Here is the exact definition of when your Medicare enrollment begins if you already receive social security benefits:

“If you already get benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board, you are automatically entitled to Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance) starting the first day of the month you turn age 65. You will not need to do anything to enroll. Your Medicare card will be mailed to you about 3 months before your 65th birthday. If your 65th birthday is February 20, 2010, your Medicare effective date would be February 1, 2010. (Note: if your birthday is on the 1st day of any month, Medicare Part A and Part B will be effective the 1st day of the prior month. For example, if your 65th birthday is February 1, 2010, your Medicare effective date would be January 1, 2010.)”

There are other extenuating circumstances where your Medicare enrollment may be even earlier, for more just continue reading this website.

1. Know that the open season for Medicare enrollment is every year between January 1^st and March 31^st.  During this period you can sign up for Medicare Part B in a variety of ways based on how you qualify for the Medicare coverage in the first place.  Don’t take your Medicare enrollment lightly, it will affect your life.
2. The cost of Medicare Part B will go up 10% for each full 12-month period that you could have had Medicare Part B but didn’t take it, except in special cases. You will have to pay this penalty as long as you have Medicare Part B.  This makes Medicare enrollment even more important, who has 10% to waste every month?
3. If your spouse is still working you don’t have to do your Medicare enrollment during the open season.  You can do your Medicare enrollment once your spouse quits working as part of the life change provision.

The “General Enrollment” period for Medicare Part B is from January 1^st to March 31^st every year and those who enroll during this time will have to pay a penalty.  Enrolling in Medicare Part B at this time will allow you to start using the benefits of the coverage on July 1^st of the same year.

The rules for “Special Enrollment” for Medicare Part B are quite complicated so who better than Medicare to explain it to you directly.

“If you wait to sign up for Part B because you or your spouse is currently working, and you are covered by a group health plan based on that work, or if you are disabled and you or a family member is working, and you are covered by a group health plan based on that work. You can sign up for Part B anytime while you have group health plan coverage based on current employment or during the 8-month period that begins the month after the employment ends, or the group health plan coverage ends, whichever happens first. If you have COBRA coverage, you must enroll during the 8 month period that begins the month after the employment ends. This Special Enrollment Period doesn’t apply to people with End?Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).”