NEWS RELEASE
Thomas Suehs
Executive Commissioner
Date: October 11, 2011
Contact: Stephanie Goodman (512) 424-6951
State Warns of Scam Involving Medicaid Card
AUSTIN – The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is warning Texans with Medicaid coverage to be aware of a scam where a caller asks them to provide a bank account number and tries to sell them a replacement Medicaid card.
The state recently replaced paper Medicaid IDs that were mailed to clients monthly with a plastic Your Texas Benefits Medicaid card that looks much like a typical insurance card. People who lose their card can call the state for a free replacement.
HHSC issued the warning after receiving a report of the scam Monday. A Medicaid client reported that a caller told them a replacement Your Texas Benefits card would cost $50 and asked them for a bank account number.
The state is advising Medicaid clients who receive similar calls to report them to the state by calling 800-436-6184.
“Please don’t give any personal information to these callers,” said Texas Medicaid Director Billy Millwee. “There’s no charge for a replacement card, and we wouldn’t ask for anyone’s back account number. Just make a note of the number the call came from and report it to the state immediately.”
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