OID Consumer Alert: Medicare Catheter Supply Scam

OK Insurance News

Published March 23rd, 2026

Detected March 24th, 2026

Summary

The Oklahoma Insurance Department (OID) is warning Medicare beneficiaries about a scam involving fraudulent billing for urinary catheters. Since January 1, 2026, 12 Oklahomans have reported charges for over 15,000 catheters totaling more than $135,000, with Medicare paying $88,793. The OID advises beneficiaries to carefully review their Medicare Summary Notices and Explanation of Benefits, and to create a Medicare.gov account for earlier claims visibility.

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What changed

The Oklahoma Insurance Department (OID) has issued a consumer alert warning Medicare beneficiaries in Oklahoma about a scam involving fraudulent billing for urinary catheters. The alert highlights that since January 1, 2026, 12 Oklahomans have reported charges for over 15,000 catheters, amounting to over $135,000 in total charges and $88,793 paid by Medicare. The OID notes that the shift to semi-annual Medicare Summary Notices (MSNs) can delay fraud detection.

Regulated entities, particularly those involved in medical supply billing, should be aware of this scam. Medicare beneficiaries are advised to meticulously review their MSNs and Explanation of Benefits (EOBs), create a Medicare.gov account for faster claims access, and report any suspicious charges for items not received or ordered. The OID's Medicare Assistance Program (MAP) is available to assist consumers in reviewing statements and reporting potential fraud.

What to do next

Review Medicare Summary Notices and Explanation of Benefits carefully for suspicious charges.
Create a Medicare.gov account to monitor claims processing in near real-time.
Report any charges for items not received or ordered to the Oklahoma Insurance Department's Medicare Assistance Program.

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OID Consumer Alert: Watch for Medicare Catheter Supply Scam

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For Immediate Release: March 23, 2026

OID Consumer Alert: Watch for Medicare Catheter Supply Scam

OKLAHOMA CITY— The Oklahoma Insurance Department’s Medicare Assistance Program (MAP) is warning Medicare beneficiaries about a growing scam involving medical supply billing.

Since January 1, 2026 12 Oklahomans on Medicare have reported their Medicare Summary Notices reflect charges for over 15,000 urinary catheters total, for which the total charges exceeded $135,000.00 and Medicare paid a total of $88,793.00.

Adding to the challenge is the fact that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is now mailing out Medicare Summary Notices every six months, as opposed to quarterly as they were in previous years. This means that people on Medicare may not see these false charges for several months, which delays any fraud report to Medicare.

How the Scam Works

Scammers contact people through unsolicited phone calls, emails, or online ads to obtain Medicare numbers.
They then bill Medicare for medical supplies that were never ordered or delivered.
Claims may appear legitimate because they list a real or familiar provider’s name.
Many people don’t realize anything is wrong until they review their Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) or Explanation of Benefits (EOB).
How to Protect Yourself
Review your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) or Explanation of Benefits (EOB) carefully. This is often the only way to catch this type of fraud.
Create a Medicare.gov account so you can see your claims information much sooner than waiting for the mailed Medicare Summary Notices. With a Medicare.gov account, you can see claims when they are processed instead of waiting six months.
Do not assume a charge is correct just because a doctor’s name is listed.
Never share your Medicare number or personal information with someone who contacts you unexpectedly.
Report charges for items you did not receive or that were not ordered by your doctor.
Need Help?

If you see suspicious charges or think your Medicare number has been misused, contact the Oklahoma Insurance Department’s Medicare Assistance Program (MAP). Trained counselors can help you review your statements and report potential fraud.

Oklahoma MAP Helpline: 800-763-2828 or 405-521-6628 Website: map.oid.ok.gov

OID is committed to helping Oklahoma consumers protect themselves from fraud and understand their Medicare benefits.