The Takeaway
- Seniors in Michigan are finding false Medicare claims for medical gear they never needed
- Similar scams involving “free” braces and diabetic supplies are surfacing nationwide
- Authorities warn that scammers use stolen Medicare IDs to file fake claims
- Report suspicious activity directly to 1-800-MEDICARE or through your local senior center
A new wave of Medicare fraud is hitting seniors in Michigan — and it’s part of a much larger national problem.
According to a WLUC-TV6 report from Marquette, seniors are discovering bogus medical equipment charges on their Medicare statements — including diabetic supplies billed to people who don’t have diabetes and braces for shoulders, wrists, and knees that were never ordered.
“What we want to educate the public about is looking for things like diabetic supplies … for people that don’t have diabetes,” said Maureen McFadden, the city’s senior services manager. “Or braces for their arms or shoulders when they don’t even have orthopedic needs.”
McFadden told WLUC that these fraudulent claims may not cost beneficiaries money right away, but they can inflate future premiums and contribute to rising systemwide costs. The Marquette City Police say the scammers are typically located outside the area — sometimes even overseas — and use stolen personal data to bill Medicare.
Detective Captain Christopher Aldrich told the station, “They’re obtaining access to this information and then exploiting it, using that for their own financial gain.”
McFadden urges residents to call 1-800-MEDICARE or contact the Marquette Senior Center if they notice anything suspicious on their statements. “People don’t need to call the police,” she said. “They can report suspected fraud directly or call us and we’ll guide them through it.”
A national “brace scam” revival
What’s happening in Michigan mirrors a nationwide resurgence of durable medical equipment (DME) fraud — a long-running scheme that’s been particularly active since early 2025.
In Pennsylvania, the attorney general’s office warned that seniors are being billed for “phantom” oxygen machines, wheelchairs, and glucose monitors they never requested. Many victims only find out after reviewing their Medicare summary notices. (WCCS Radio, Sept. 2025)
In Florida, a man was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for running a $61 million fraud that used shell companies to bill Medicare for unnecessary DME items. (U.S. Department of Justice, June 2025)
And in California, NBC San Diego reported that scammers were posing as Medicare representatives during open enrollment, persuading seniors to “update” their benefits — a trick to harvest Medicare numbers that are then used to file fake equipment claims. (NBC San Diego, Oct. 2025)
“Free” equipment that isn’t free
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has repeatedly warned of what it calls the “nationwide brace scam.” Fraudsters call or text seniors claiming to offer Medicare-covered orthotic braces “at no cost.” The braces are often cheap, unnecessary, or never shipped — but Medicare is billed thousands of dollars per item. (HHS OIG Consumer Alert)
In some cases, entire companies are built around this scheme. During a 2025 federal sweep dubbed Operation Gold Rush, authorities uncovered more than $10 billion in fraudulent Medicare claims tied to bogus supply companies in multiple states. (Washington Post, June 2025)
How to protect yourself
The Senior Medicare Patrol Resource Center says most scams begin with a phone call or online ad offering free medical gear or benefits. Once scammers collect your Medicare number, they can bill the program for anything they want.
To protect yourself:
- Check your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) every month. Flag items you don’t recognize.
- Never share your Medicare or Social Security number unless you initiated the contact and verified the organization.
- Ignore robocalls promising free supplies or “special benefits.”
- Report suspicious activity to 1-800-MEDICARE or your state’s Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) office.
You can also find detailed reporting instructions and state contacts at smpresource.org.
Bottom line
The Marquette Senior Center’s warning is more than a local story — it’s part of a pattern that’s costing taxpayers billions and putting seniors’ identities at risk.
The fraud might show up as a single line on a benefits statement — “ankle brace, $1,200” — but it’s often the first clue that your Medicare number has been stolen.
Check your statements. Question anything odd. And when in doubt, make one call: 1-800-MEDICARE.
Sources:
WLUC-TV6 | Upper Michigan’s Source · U.S. Department of Justice · NBC San Diego · Washington Post · HHS OIG · SMP Resource Center · WCCS Radio
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal or medical advice. Seniors who suspect Medicare fraud should report it to official government hotlines, not third-party organizations.
