US charges 11 people in Russia-based scheme to bilk Medicare of $10bn

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: The Guardian/AFP

Fri 27 Jun 2025 23.38 EDT


US federal prosecutors charged 11 people on Friday in a Russia-based scheme to bilk Medicare – the American health insurance program for the elderly and disabled – out of $10.6bn through fraudulent billing for expensive medical equipment.

The “transnational criminal organization” orchestrated a “multi-billion-dollar health care fraud and money laundering scheme” that included purchasing dozens of medical equipment companies from prior legitimate owners to perpetrate the fraud, according to the indictment dated 18 June.

More than a million Medicare recipients had their personal information stolen and used by the defendants to file for billions of dollars in claims from Medicare and its supplemental insurers, prosecutors said in the filing.

The claims were filed through medical equipment providers that the group had purchased, but no equipment was ever sent out for the payments.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/28/us-charges-11-people-in-russia-based-scheme-to-bilk-medicare-of-10bn

[Irish_Dem]

1. I'm shocked the US govt is going after these Russian criminals.

[bluedigger]

3. They must have left Putin out of the deal.

They won't make that mistake again after the pardons come through.

[LiberalArkie]

6. My thought exactly. May have been Russian backed but not Oligarch backed.

Theft and crime around the world seems to be ok as long as it is backed by the oligarchs and plutocrats.

[Lonestarblue]

12. This investigation started under the Biden administration.

I was one whose account was stolen and fraudulent charges made. Fortunately, I check my Medicare statement each month, and I called Medicare to report the fake charges. This was at least 3+ years ago, and the Medicare employee was super helpful and thanked me more than once for reporting the fraud. After the DOGE wrecking ball, Medicare may no longer have employees to answer the phone and take information about fraud.

[Irish_Dem]

14. The shock is that Trump didn't stop the investigation.

The Russian criminals must have given Trump a cut of the profits.

[Gak73]

19. Me too

I reported it too. It was insulin needles they said I bought. Medicare approved it even though i do not have diabetes. Wth!!!

[Born Free]

33. Doubts about all of this, seems a bit odd timing

$10bn in fraudulent activity at a time when politicians are having trouble getting voters to like their proposed cuts, but call it eliminating waste and fraud. The FlimFlam artist in the white house does know how to distract his voters.

[Irish_Dem]

34. Yes could be just a skit from the Trump reality TV show to distract voters.

[CousinIT]

2. Good. But has the US looked lately at how much Medicare Advantage is bilking Medicare?

It's a lot more than that.

[Cheezoholic]

9. Yep. Every dollar of profit is theft of a dollar from Medicare's budget n/t

[bucolic_frolic]

4. Tip of the Iceburger

Boys and girls, look at how vigilant we are!!!

"It's not a crime if you save your country." Whatever that's supposed to mean.

The radar is not perfect, perhaps not even well monitored.

[mahina]

5. That's wonderful that we did something good for once

Good job

[Autumn]

7. The US would save a lot more if they put a stop to Medicare calling me at least 6

times a day, every fucking day.

[Cheezoholic]

10. That's more than likely Medicare Advantage companies. Medicare itself does not cold call n/t

[Bengus81]

11. Yep...+1000

[Autumn]

18. That advantage program gets their money frm Medicare. The calls never stop.

[Cheezoholic]

27. Correct. It's a PRIVATE insurance company, NOT Medicare. They will not get Medicare money if you dont use them

It's the biggest problem with these. The GWB administration got a law passed allowing these companies to insert the word "Medicare" in the title of their plans when it's not Medicare at all. Medicare doesn't go out and pay these companies. The only way a company gets any Medicare money is if YOU choose to use them instead of regular Medicare.

It's what makes Medicare Advantage so confusing in an already insanely confusing process. I know, I just went through it. By being able to call themselves "Medicare Advantage" people think that actual Medicare is pushing these cold calls, sending these mailers etc when they are NOT!. Medicare will NEVER try to sell you ANYTHING! When you get your Medicare packet it gives you either the choices you have or where to find them online (by creating your Medicare account with Medicare itself).

I can't stand it when our Medicare takes the heat for this kind of stuff. It's completely understandable because of the way the Republicans have manipulated it and are trying to funnel it into private companies. I hope that cleared it up and just understand, Medicare itself is not calling you nor will they try and solicit you via phone or any other way. They only answer questions and send you information when you request it. Please note below, very important.....

If you are receiving ANY calls about Medicare they are 1 of 2 things, PRIVATE COMPANIES or FRAUDULENT IDENTITY THEIVES! Hang up. Block the numbers or if you don't know how to do that, call your phone provider they will do it for you.

Its never Medicare nor is it Medicare's fault, its Republicans and THATS WHY WE"RE ALL HERE!!!

[AverageOldGuy]

23. Medicare is not calling you

That's one of the scam Medicare Advantage companies.

Whatever you do, DO NOT SWITCH TO MEDICARE ADVANTAGE. When you discover it's no damn good, you cannot go back to regular Medicare.

You see all those ads on TV about Medicare Advantage?? They are BULLSHIT.

[eppur_se_muova]

31. Yes, you can go back to regular Medicare. But it's a PITA -- you have to drop during certain periods.

There are specific times when you can join a Medicare Advantage Plan or a Medicare
drug plan, or make changes to your existing Medicare coverage:
• During your Initial Enrollment Period (when you first become eligible for Medicare,
or when you turn 65). Go to page 2.
• During certain yearly enrollment periods. Go to page 3.
• Under certain circumstances if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, as
described below. Go to page 4
***
Medicare Advantage Open
Enrollment Period
• If you’re already enrolled in a Medicare
Advantage Plan, this period runs from
January 1– March 31.
• If you’re new to Medicare and enroll in a
Medicare Advantage Plan, this period runs
from the first month you’re entitled to both
Part A and Part B, until the last day of the 3rd
month you’re first entitled.
(You can use the Medicare Advantage Open
Enrollment Period to make only one change.
Changes will take effect the first day of the
month after the plan gets your request.)

• Switch to another Medicare Advantage Plan (with or
without drug coverage).
• Drop your Medicare Advantage Plan and go back to
Original Medicare. If you do this, you’ll be able to join a
Medicare drug plan.

https://www.medicare.gov/publications/11219-Understanding-Medicare-Advantage-Medicare-Drug-Plan-Enrollment-Periods.pdf

[chowder66]

8. Wow! I didn't know Rick Scott was Russian!

[Bengus81]

13. Snort!!!

[Traildogbob]

26. My first thought

Rick Scottski had to be the mastermind. He knows the only consequence is a wrist slap, a Governors seat and then Senate,
How many damn Russians are in our government?
Russia Russia Russia.
But Hunter…….

[CousinIT]

15. ...

[Timeflyer]

17. Oh, you!

[Silent Type]

16. I know we hate private insurers for denying claims until they look at medical records, but traditional Medicare does a

crappy job of weeding out fraud. OP is a good example, how did it go on for several years. And there are plenty more examples.

From article: "Medicare paid “approximately $41 million as a result of the fraudulent submissions” and supplemental insurers are estimated to have paid out $900m more between 2022 and 2024, prosecutors wrote."

[Bev54]

20. Recipients Personal information received from Elmo and associates???

[Bayard]

28. My thoughts as well.

They've probably made a ton of money from selling our info.

[Silent Type]

29. This started long before Musk, like 2022.

[no_hypocrisy]

21. "Hey Russia! You can't rob Medicare!"

"That money's ours to rob."

[AverageOldGuy]

22. Let this be a warning to YOU

If you or anyone in your family or your elderly neighbors use Medicare IT IS CRITICAL THAT THEY CAREFULLY READ THE QUARTERLY (OR MONTHLY) MEDICARE STATEMENT. Or, better yet, you read it for them.

Medicare sends out quarterly/monthly statements showing:
-- the doctor or hospital or whomever doing the billing (Dr. I Push Pills);
-- purpose of the bill (set broken arm);
-- the amount of the bill ($1,000);
-- the amount Medicare paid ($900);
-- the amount you may be billed ($100; usually the doc writes off this amount, you don't often get billed for this).

A lady in my church was not in the habit of reading her bills, just glanced at them, filed them, and was happy that no one was billing her. Then, one day, she read the whole thing where she discovered that a medical group six states away had billed her $31,000 for various braces, therapy, and the like -- she did not recognize them, never had such work done.

She then pulled her old bills out of the file cabinet and turned out the same billing was on THREE previous quarterly statements -- a total of $124,000 over the past year.

She called Medicare and was told, yes, this is a scam, we have caught it, it will not be on your bill, please for your and our protection READ YOUR BILL CAREFULLY.

She stood up in church one Sunday and told the congregation about it. All us old people went home, pulled out our Medicare bills and searched them. Next Sunday, three people -- including old you-know-who -- announced that we, too, had found similar false billing.

READ THAT MEDICARE BILL. AND -- READ THE BILL FROM YOU SECONDARY INSURER ALSO. CALL THEM IF ANYTHING LOOKS FISHY.

[PSPS]

24. In other words, better pony up trump's vigoresh thru his bitcoin laundry stat!

When it's in his wallet, the DOJ will drop the investigation.

[Martin68]

25. At one stroke, efficient federal government saves more money than DOGE ever did.

If the IRS was allowed to operate normally, they would also save similar amounts.

[eppur_se_muova]

32. DOGE was a complete success -- it screwed eveything up royally, and sent $B in contracts to Musk. Just as planned. nt

[Quanto Magnus]

30. Don't worry, Trump will pardon them

and hand over the $10bn personally (for a small fee of course!)