What is Illinois SMP?

SMP is the Senior Medicare Patrol, and their mission is to empower consumers to prevent healthcare fraud. Senior Medicare Patrol’s 3 principles are:

1. PROTECT yourself from Medicare & Medicaid fraud, waste & abuse.
2. DETECT Medicare & Medicaid fraud, waste & abuse.
3. REPORT Medicare & Medicaid fraud, waste & abuse.

The Illinois SMP program is administered through AgeOptions in Suburban Cook County, but works with several agencies across the state to further their efforts-- including the Area Agency on Aging for Lincolnland. Illinois SMP provides several useful tools to help prevent fraud:

How to read your Medicare Summary Notice (PDF)

Illinois SMP Toolkit (PDF)

The toolkit provides information about Medicare, a checklist to use when considering a private insurance plan, and tips on how to protect yourself from fraud.

For more information and updates on scams and fraud alerts, visit the Illinois SMP website at

http://ageoptions.org/whatWeDo/SMP.cfm