What is Illinois SMP?
SMP is the Senior Medicare Patrol, and their mission is to empower consumers to prevent healthcare fraud.
They do this with 3 principles:
- PROTECT themselves from Medicare & Medicaid fraud, waste & abuse.
- DETECT Medicare & Medicaid fraud, waste & abuse.
- REPORT Medicare & Medicaid fraud, waste & abuse.
The Illinois SMP program is administered through AgeOptions in Suburban Cook County, but works with several agencies acrosss the state to further their efforts-- this includes the East Central Illinois Area Agency on Aging.
Illinois SMP provides several useful tools to help prevent fraud:
How to read your Medicare Summary Notice (pdf)
Illinois SMP toolkit (pdf)
The toolkit provides information about Medicare, a checklist to use when considering a private insurance plan, and tips on how to protect yourself from fraud.
Illinois SMP is always looking for volunteers to:
- help give presentations
- distribute information at community events
- help counsel others about fraud and abuse
For more information and tools, visit the Illinois SMP website.