Following are 10 Ways to Prevent Health Care Fraud:

1. Protect your insurance ID card like you would your credit cards. Don’t give out your policy number to door-to-door representatives, to telephone solicitors, or even over the internet.

2. If you lose your insurance ID card, immediately report it to your insurance company.

3. Promptly review your explanation of benefits (EOB) forms after you receive them in the mail. Report questionable activity to your insurance company if you suspect it is fraudulent.

4. Stay informed about your medical care. Ask your provider about the procedures and tests that will be performed as part of your treatment.

5. Keep detailed records of all received medical statements and bills.

6. Beware of “free” offers and mobile medical clinics. If any kind of a deal sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Free services, such as tests or other treatments are often schemes designed to bill you and your insurance for large sums of money for treatments you didn’t actually receive.

7. Report instances where a provider continually waives co-payments or deductibles.

This is a common indicator that a provider is obtaining inflated payments.

8. When selecting a provider, speak with family and friends to get recommendations.

Many consumers have long standing relationships with their medical providers and know if they are a trusted source.

9. Always get a second opinion if you are referred to a provider who recommends treatment, tests or services that seem unreasonable.

10. Purchase health care services with the same care and evaluation you use