Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida HELPLINE: 866-413-5337
Skip to content

Senior Medicare Patrol

Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) team members help educate and assist Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers to prevent, detect, and report health care fraud, errors, and abuse. To learn more, visit https://smpresource.org/.

Ask for help. If you have questions about how to protect yourself, need to report fraud, or want help determining whether you’ve been a victim, Senior Medicare Patrol can help. Contact your local SHIP-SMP program by calling the Helpline at 866-413-5337.

Volunteers Needed Across Southwest Florida to Lead Health & Wellness Workshops

Looking to make an impact your community?

Consider becoming certified to lead free health and wellness workshops offered by the Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida (AAASWFL).

AAASWFL needs volunteers to lead our Health & Wellness Workshops in all seven counties we serve across Southwest Florida, including: Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hendry, Lee, and Sarasota. 

You can become certified in programs we offer to the community, including: 

  • A Matter of Balance – is a proven program designed to help people manage concerns about falls and increase physical activity. AAASWFL is looking for volunteers to help provide this program.

    A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns About Falls is conducted in eight two-hour sessions and uses group discussion, problem-solving strategies, videos, and gentle physical exercise to teach older adults positive coping methods to reduce fear of falling.

    Coaches need good communication and interpersonal skills, enthusiasm, dependability and a willingness to lead small groups of older adults. Coaches also need to be able to lead low to moderate level exercise.

  • Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program – classes are designed for older adults to reduce arthritis pain and stiffness, build muscle around joints, and increase energy and mobility. These gentle exercises can be done either sitting or standing. Classes meet for an hour, twice a week, for 8 weeks.
  • SAVVY Caregivers Program – is a six-week program is designed to support caregivers of individuals with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and other dementia-related illnesses. The course will help you master essential skills in managing chronic illness, navigating resources, enhancing communication and problem solving, guiding caregivers, and leading training sessions.
  • Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention – classes are designed to help relieve pain, improve balance, and significantly reduce falls in older adults. Classes meet for an hour, twice a week, for 8 to 10 weeks.
  • Walk with Easeclasses are designed for older adults to reduce pain and increase mobility. One-hour classes include group walks and health-related discussions.

Free certification is provided with a commitment to lead workshops.

Have questions? Want to learn more? Ready to sign up? Contact our Health & Wellness Coordinator, Gloria Lappost, for details at clorivel.lappost@aaaswfl.org or call 239-652-6914. 

Scam Alert: Do Not Click the Link to Claim SSA Benefits

Emails to apply for retirement starting in 2025 are phony

The Social Security Administration (SSA) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) is warning the public of a new scam tactic by criminals trying to lure potential retirement applicants to their site.

This recent scam email appears to be from SSA and has the subject line: “Claim Benefits!” It states “Important: Apply for Your Social Security Benefits Starting in 2025”. The link within the phony email is disguised as SSA’s official website, www.ssa.gov or www.socialsecurity.gov. Clicking on the link within the email redirects individuals to a fraudulent site.

THIS EMAIL IS NOT FROM SSA.

One example of this new imposter email is shown here. It is important to see that the email is from “Social Administration,” and reflects a personal or non-government email address. Government agencies always have “.gov” as part of their official email address.

SSA OIG is advising you to always be cautious of responding to unsolicited emails that appear to be from an official government entity, such as SSA, or another federal agency. These emails are a variation of government imposter scams. DELETE IT. Don’t click on links or respond to any text, email, phone call, or letter that has characteristics of a scam. See warning signs at ssa.gov/scam. To contact SSA for business purposes, visit ssa.gov to find the correct information.

“Scammers use benefits, benefit increases, prizes, or problems to attract your attention so that they can entice or intimidate unsuspecting persons with their ploys,” said Michelle L. Anderson, Assistant Inspector General for Audit performing the duties of the Inspector General. “Our priorities are to educate consumers on how to avoid these vicious attempts and to help you keep your personal identifying information and money secure. We will continue to tell you when we become aware of tactics such as this one.”

WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE A VICTIM
• Stop talking to the scammer. Notify financial institutions and safeguard accounts.
• Report Social Security-related scams to SSA OIG (oig.ssa.gov).
• Contact local law enforcement and file a police report.
• If you lost money, file a complaint with the Federal Bureau of Investigation Internet Crime Complaint Center (ic3.gov).
• Report other scams to the Federal Trade Commission (ftc.gov).
• Keep financial transaction information and the record of all communications with the scammer.

To view the Scam Alert, click here (add attachment, media release). And visit https://www.ssa.gov/scam/ to learn how to protect yourself and report Social Security related scams.

If you suspect Medicare fraud, contact your local SHIP-SMP program by calling the Helpline at 866-413-5337.

SCAM ALERT: Skimming at ATMs

Recently, several financial institutions in the Tallahassee area have reported finding skimming devices on some of their ATMs. Regardless of where you live, it is important to understand what skimming is and how to protect yourself from it.

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), skimming occurs when devices illegally installed on or outside ATMs, point-of-sale (POS) terminals, or fuel pumps capture card data and record cardholders’ PIN entries. Criminals use the collected data to create fake payment cards and then make unauthorized purchases or steal from victims’ accounts.

The attached United States Secret Service (USSS) flyer includes advice on mitigation and prevention for individual cardholders as follows:

“Immediately contact the card issuer’s fraud department to report the incident, ask that the card be deactivated, and ask that a new card be issued with a new PIN. Monitor the affected account closely. If you suffered a financial loss as a result of the skimming incident, consider filing a fraud affidavit with the card issuer and contacting your local law enforcement agency to report the incident. In the future, consider making purchases using cards which can transact through contactless payment (i.e., tap-to-pay) or with the card’s new EMV chip, instead of the magnetic strip.”

Please see the links below from the USSS and FBI, which provide useful information about skimming, the various types of skimming scams, and tips on how to protect yourself.

https://www.secretservice.gov/investigations/skimming

https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/scams-and-safety/common-frauds-and-scams/skimming

A Public Service Announcement from the Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida, Inc., the state-designated disability and aging resource center for Charlotte, Collier, Desoto, Glades, Hendry, Lee and Sarasota counties funded in part by the State of Florida Department of Elder Affairs.

Encuesta de Salud Comunitaria (2025) para los Condados de Collier y Lee

¡Construyamos juntos una comunidad más saludable! Nos asociamos con NCH, el Departamento de Salud de Florida en el Condado Collier, Health Planning Council of Southwest Florida, y Healthcare Network para realizar una encuesta comunitaria sobre las necesidades de atención médicas. Su participación es crucial para identificar brechas en los servicios, mejorar el acceso a la atención y garantizar un futuro más saludable para todos los residentes. Su opinión influirá directamente en el desarrollo de programas y recursos que satisfagan mejor las necesidades de nuestra comunidad. ¡Apreciamos su tiempo y sus valiosos conocimientos! (English)

Descarga la encuesta o complétala en línea.

2025 Community Health Survey for Collier and Lee Counties

We’re partnering with NCH, the Florida Department of Health in Collier County, the Healthcare Network, and the Health Planning Council of Southwest Florida to help conduct a community survey on healthcare needs in Collier and Lee Counties. Your participation is crucial in identifying gaps in services, improving access to care, and ensuring a healthier future for all residents. Your input will directly influence the development of programs and resources that better meet our community’s needs. We appreciate your time and valuable insights! (En español)

Download the survey or fill it out online.

Medicare Minute: Premium-related Appeals and Troubleshooting

Late enrollment in Medicare or a higher income can lead to higher premiums. However, everyone has the right to appeal their premium determination. Understanding how these premiums work can help you assess their accuracy and decide if you should appeal. Download a detailed handout from the Medicare Rights Center here.

Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA)

The Medicare Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount, often shortened to IRMAA, is an amount you may owe in addition to your Part B and Part D premium if your income is above a certain level. Federal law sets income brackets that determine your—or you and your spouse’s—IRMAA each year.

Find the chart of monthly premiums for Part B and Part D based on your annual income here.

You can ask for a new IRMAA determination. If the Social Security Administration determines that you owe an IRMAA, they will mail you a notice called an initial determination. This notice should include information on how to request a new initial determination. A new initial determination is a revised decision that Social Security makes regarding your IRMAA. You can request that Social Security revisit its decision if you have experienced a life-changing event that caused an income decrease, or if you think the income information Social Security used to determine your IRMAA was incorrect.

Part B Late Enrollment Penalty

For each 12-month period you delay enrollment in Medicare Part B, you will owe a 10% Part B late enrollment penalty (LEP)—generally every month for as long as you have Medicare. Everyone has a right to file an appeal with the Social Security Administration (SSA) regarding their LEP. To appeal, follow the directions on the letter informing you about the penalty. Unfortunately, being unaware of the requirement to enroll in Part B is unlikely to be a successful argument for an appeal.

How to calculate the Part B LEP:

Let’s say you delayed enrolling in Medicare Part B for seven years and you owe a premium penalty. Your monthly premium would be 70% higher for as long as you have Medicare (7 years x 10%). Since the base Part B premium in 2025 is $185, your monthly premium with the penalty will be $314.50 ($185 x 1.7).

Part D Late Enrollment Penalty

For each month you delay enrollment in Part D, you will owe a 1% Part D LEP (generally every month for as long as you have Part D). The Part D penalty is always calculated using that year’s national base beneficiary premium. Your penalty will not decrease if you enroll in a Part D plan with a lower premium.

Everyone has the right to file an appeal with C2C Innovative Solutions regarding their LEP determination. C2C Solutions is the company contracted by Medicare to handle these appeals. You can appeal the penalty (if you think you were continuously covered) or its amount (if you think it was calculated incorrectly). You should complete the appeal form you received from your plan, attach any evidence you have, and mail everything to C2C Innovative Solutions.

How to calculate the Part D LEP:

Let’s say you delayed enrollment in Part D for seven months (and you didn’t have other creditable drug coverage, which allows you to delay enrollment). Your monthly premium would be 7% higher for as long as you have Part D (7 months x 1%). The national base beneficiary premium in 2025 is $36.78 a month. Your monthly premium penalty would therefore be $2.57 ($36.78 x 0.07 = $2.57) per month, which you would pay in addition to your plan’s premium.

Identify billing errors

Health care providers and their billing departments sometimes make billing errors or honest mistakes. If you think your doctor or their billing department made an error or mistake, contact them directly to resolve the issue. They should correct these errors if you tell them.

You can spot these errors by keeping an appointment calendar or using a My Health Care Tracker to keep track of your medical appointments and services. You can call your local Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) for a My Health Care Tracker if you don’t already use one. The tracker can help you compare your appointments, services, and notes to your Medicare statements.

If something does not seem right on your Medicare statement, remember to first call your provider. Here are just a couple examples of potential errors:

  • Your provider billed Medicare for an office visit on a day when you did not see them.
  • Your provider billed you for a service that was different than what you received.

If your provider does not resolve the issue, or if you notice a pattern of errors, contact your local Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP). In Southwest Florida, call 866-413-5337. They can assist to try to resolve the error. Your SMP can also help you identify Medicare potential fraud, or abuse, and can help you report it to CMS and the correct authorities.

SHINE counselors can also provide you with individual Medicare counseling to support you in your specific situation. Call us at 866-413-5337 or email shineinfo@aaaswfl.org. 

The Medicare Rights Center is the author of portions of the content in these materials but is not responsible for any content not authored by the Medicare Rights Center. This document is supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $2,534,081 with 100 percent funding by ACL/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACL/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

 

Medicare’s General Enrollment Period

Typically, individuals enroll in Medicare during the months surrounding their 65th birthday. However, if you missed your seven-month Initial Enrollment Period, there’s still hope. You may be eligible to sign up during the General Enrollment Period (January 1 – March 31). Once you’ve signed up, your coverage will begin the following month.

Have questions? SHINE, your local SHIP program, can help. To request SHINE counseling, call the Helpline at 866-413-5337 or visit www.floridashine.org to submit a contact request.

Area Agency on Aging for SWFL Launches a Long-Term Hurricane Ian Recovery Assistance Program in Lee County

Recovery from a major disaster such as Hurricane Ian is a process that can take years. Seniors and adults with disabilities can be especially vulnerable and often face unique challenges, making their recovery even more difficult. The Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida (AAASWFL) is committed to helping seniors and adults with disabilities rebound from their losses and sustain their physical, social, economic, and emotional well-being.

We have been awarded a micro-grant from the Lee County Unmet Needs Long Term Recovery Group (UNLTRG) to help provide ongoing support to older adults and adults with disabilities in Lee County with unmet needs associated with Hurricane Ian. We are very grateful for the opportunity to continue supporting clients in recovery.

To qualify for this assistance, you must be a Lee County resident age 60+ or age 18+ with a disability. To learn more, call our helpline at 866-413-5337 and ask about our Hurricane Ian Disaster Assistance Program.

We know that the disaster assistance process can be difficult to navigate. Our new Disaster Assistance Coordinator, Patti Teel, is here to help Lee County residents who are still working to recover from Hurricane Ian. She can help assess your eligibility for local assistance, connect you with matching recovery programs and provide application assistance upon request. 

 

Help is just a phone call away!