Medicare fraud is a multibillion-dollar crisis that threatens both taxpayer dollars and the personal identities of American seniors, according to the administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Dr. Mehmet Oz, speaking at the Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C., described the scale of the problem. "We think it's about $100 billion a year," Oz stated. "If I had to just pick one thing to focus on to make healthcare more affordable in America, I'd go to health fraud."
The fraud includes billing for services never provided, using stolen patient information, and performing unnecessary procedures. Oz warned that scammers often trick seniors into giving up their Medicare beneficiary numbers, which function like credit cards for illegitimate purposes.
"These scammers are calling seniors, tricking them, and once they have key information, they can steal it," Oz explained. "And I won't know it and you won't know it."
Oz shared critical advice: Never give your Medicare number to anyone unknown, do not answer personal questions from unsolicited callers, and protect all personal information.
The administration's push against fraud has shown results, with CMS reporting $41.9 billion in program integrity savings in 2025. Oz argued that eliminating corruption could double the life expectancy of the Medicare trust fund, securing the program for future generations.
"We want to protect people who need these programs the most," Oz said. "You do that by making sure scoundrels don't corrupt the systems and steal money out of the till."