Medicare Blueprint Advisors - May/June 2020

Scammers have been a common threat since the first snake oil salesmen started peddling their “cure-all” potions. Today, scammers have stepped down from their soapboxes and are instead hiding behind robocalls, hidden numbers, and online platforms. Frequently, these fraudsters target vulnerable populations, including college students, low-income families, and seniors. For years, scammers have been using Medicare as a platform for scamming older adults out of their personal information. These criminals call to notify the Medicare user that new benefits cards were being issued and updated personal information was needed. The scammers can be relentlessly demanding, calling frequently and often yelling at or attacking their victims over the phone. Others have even used personal information they previously attained to lull their victim into false security. As a result, many Medicare recipients give out their personal information, including their Medicare and Social Security numbers, address, birthdate, and more. Unfortunately, with the surge and outbreak of COVID-19, scammers have found another opportunity to steal your information through Medicare. PROTECT YOURSELF Scammers Might Use COVID-19 to Obtain Your Medicare Information

Many scammers and hackers call Medicare recipients asking for their Medicare number or other personal information, claiming they have vaccines, masks, tests, or more in exchange for your personal information. The tragic part about this scam is that older adults are a vulnerable population when it comes to COVID-19. Scammers play on that increased fear and anxiety to steal from you. The best thing you can do when you receive calls asking for your personal information is to hang up immediately. Remember, Medicare and similar administrations will never call you to update your personal information. You should only ever give your Medicare number to your pharmacist, hospital, health insurer, or other health care providers. And, while the phone and internet are popular platforms for scammers, old fashioned paper scams are still thriving. Combat this by regularly checking your Medicare claim summary forms for any errors or lapses, and ensure this paperwork matches your appointment dates and treatment. Report any suspicious activity or possible scams to Medicare at 1-800-633-4227. Local authorities and family members you trust are also great resources to report fraud incidents. Learn more about Medicare fraud at Medicare.gov/fraud.

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INGREDIENTS

6 oz multigrain spaghetti

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated 1/2 tsp black pepper 1 cup baby arugula

8 oz fresh asparagus, cut into 1-inch pieces

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1 tbsp olive oil 1 tsp lemon zest

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat oven to 425 F. 2. In a large pot, cook spaghetti until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of water before draining and put spaghetti in a covered pot to keep warm. 3. Line a 15x10-inch baking pan with foil and toss in asparagus and olive oil. 4. Cook asparagus for 5–7 minutes and sprinkle with lemon zest. 5. Add 3/4 cup of the reserved water, Parmesan cheese, and pepper to the spaghetti. Stir until creamy. 6. Toss in asparagus and arugula before serving.

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