Free Medical Equipment Billing Fraud

How "free" medical equipment offers turn into thousands in fraudulent Medicare bills — costing taxpayers billions every year.

How the Scam Works

The bait arrives by TV ad, robocall, postcard, or Facebook ad: "Are you on Medicare? You may qualify for a FREE back brace! Free knee brace! Free diabetic supplies! Free continuous glucose monitor! NO COST to you — Medicare pays everything." The pitch sounds caring, even helpful. You give them your Medicare number to "check if you qualify." A few weeks later, a back brace arrives in the mail.

What you don't see: Medicare has been billed $300 to $1,200 or more for that brace, and a doctor you've never met has signed a prescription saying you needed it for medical reasons. Sometimes the scammer bills Medicare for braces or equipment that never arrives at all. They may continue billing you (and Medicare) every month for "refills" or "replacements."

This is called Durable Medical Equipment (DME) fraud, and it costs Medicare more than $3 billion every year. The fraudsters operate fake "telemedicine" companies that pay rogue doctors $20–$30 to sign prescriptions in batches. The equipment is often shoddy, the wrong size, or never delivered. Some patients receive boxes of unwanted items they didn't order.

The danger is bigger than the cost: when scammers use your Medicare number, you may hit your benefit limits. When you later need a real piece of equipment, Medicare may refuse to pay because their records show you already received one. Untangling fraudulent claims often takes a year or more.

Real-World Example

🦽 Real Case

A 72-year-old man in Florida saw a TV ad for a "free back brace covered 100% by Medicare." He called, gave his Medicare number, and a brace arrived a week later. He didn't need it, so he tossed it in the closet. Over the next year, Medicare was billed $4,800 for additional braces, knee supports, urinary catheters, and a "wheelchair" he never received. When he later needed a real diabetic shoe insert, Medicare denied the claim — his "annual benefit" was already maxed out by the fraudulent equipment. He had to fight for 14 months to clear his record.

Warning Signs

•"FREE" medical equipment offered by phone, text, or TV.
•"100% covered by Medicare — no cost to you."
•You're asked for your Medicare number over the phone.
•A telehealth doctor you've never met "signs off" on your eligibility in minutes.
•Pressure to act fast — "this offer expires today."
•Targeted by a robocall, TV ad, or unsolicited text.
•Unexpected boxes arrive with equipment you didn't order.

How to Protect Yourself

✓Never accept free equipment through phone or TV offers. Real medical equipment is prescribed by your real doctor at a real visit.
✓Never give your Medicare number to anyone who calls you. Real Medicare-related calls come after you contact them first.
✓Review your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) every quarter. It lists every claim filed under your name. Report anything you don't recognize.
✓Get a Medicare account. Free at Medicare.gov — you can see claims faster than paper notices.
✓If you received equipment you didn't order: Keep it. Don't pay any "shipping fee." Call 1-800-MEDICARE and your local SMP.
✓Report DME fraud to the HHS Office of Inspector General at oig.hhs.gov or 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477).
✓Find your Senior Medicare Patrol at smpresource.org for free local help.

Got a Suspicious Medicare Call or Offer?

Use our free Scam Checker to instantly analyze any phone number, email, or website for known scam patterns.