The new health care law also provides better tools to help fight waste, fraud and abuse to help protect Medicare.

CMS offers tips to help beneficiaries protect themselves against fraud and identity theft during the Open Enrollment period.

Medicare recommends that people treat their Medicare number as they do their social security number and credit card information. 

•    Beneficiaries should not give personal information to anyone who comes to their home uninvited or makes an unsolicited phone call selling Medicare-related products or services. Beneficiaries who believe they are a victim of fraud or identity theft should contact:
•    HICAP(1-800 -434-0222)
•    California Health Advocates (1-800-434-0222) www.smpresourse.org
•    Medicare  (1-800-633-4227; TTY, 1-877-486-2048).