I just had a call, supposedly from CVS and an 800 number, where they pretty nearly insisted that they were going to send me a mouth swab genetic test, because all senior citizens over the age of 65 are eligible for predictive genetic testing paid for by Medicare. I told them no, don’t send the test, and hung up. Fortunately, they had the wrong address. The first person had such a strong accent that I asked for someone else, the second person I could at least understand, although they had a pretty strong accent. Every time I said I didn’t want the test, they kept repeating that it was paid for, even when I emphasized that it was not the cost I objected to.
After the call, I tried to look up whether Medicare actually covered predictive genetic testing, and one source that posted 5 days ago said that any such tests have to be ordered by a “medical provider.”
In any case, I did this on my own dime several years go through 23andme, which I now view as an error in judgment and have tried to make sure the results aren’t out there for anyone to access.
This sounds either like a complete phishing scam, i.e. someone trying to confirm my address (which I did not give them); or else CVS is trying to make a few bucks and has a tame doctor ordering these tests for every senior citizen on their list.
So what’s your best guess about what’s going on here?
OK, I blurred one detail: they were actually calling for my husband, who has not had any dealings with genetic swab tests anywhere, but I think CVS does have his birth date, so they would know that he is over 65. We both got some vaccinations there, and if they are calling either or both of us with this “offer” based on that, I am really going to be steamed.
I assume you mean over the phone, which I did not, and they did not ask for it. I’m pretty sure CVS already has it, from the vaccinations that Medicare paid for. That’s why they are supposed to be trustworthy enough not to play fast and loose with that kind of information.
Even if this weren’t an established scam already, it’s pretty phishy in and of itself that CVS (or any company) would hire people to call you just to send you free tests. It’d be much cheaper to just email you or send you a postcard in the mail, or include a pamphlet with your next prescription.
As part of my Medicare Advantage plan, my insurer sent me a “no charge” ColoGuard test. Before the test arrived, I got several emails, as well as a USPS physical letter, stressing the test was free, but I don’t recall a phone call; maybe they did call. (My primary care doctor was only mildly curious about the results.) But if it was for a “free” genetic test, I’d certainly decline.
Thanks for the articles. At least I don’t have to be mad at CVS now, which is sort of a relief. Just someone pretending to be them. And I appreciate the resources for reporting it, even though I wouldn’t have much to tell them since the phone number was spoofed (I presume).
Huh. I had been wondering if it was for the Galleri multi cancer early detection test (MCED) which is genetic in that it is looking for DNA and RNA fragments from cancer cells.
I was guessing they were recruiting for a prospective study to see both if it was good enough at early detection to use as a screening, and if it results in any lives, or from the CVS perspective, money saved.
My older sister was persuaded to do this (before she went on Medicare) to save money. But when the test indicated there could be a polyp, the subsequent colonoscopy was up to her to pay for in full, because it was no longer a “wellness” procedure, it was a “diagnostic” procedure. If she’d had a colonoscopy without the cologard, the colonoscopy would have been covered with her only paying a small part to cover the polyp removal portion of the procedure.
This is absolutely not the way it worked for me, but I was on Medicare so if your sister was on regular medical insurance it might have been different for her.
I did Cologard once, and got a “positive” result, which did not say anything other than it showed an elevated risk of cancer (i.e. it did not specifically say it was for polyps). They made sure I understood that it might have been a false positive. I scheduled a colonoscopy, which revealed two fair-sized polyps and a little diverticulosis. Medicare paid for both, minus the usual deductibles. (The next two colonoscopies, after one year and then three years, were clean for polyps.)
Would she have had to pay for the whole procedure or just a copay , which I think is not charged for a screening colonoscopy.It’s kind of difficult to imagine an insurance company that would pay for a screening colonoscopy and not pay anything for a diagnostic one - I know when I have a positive test my insurance still covers the colonoscopy.
Yes, that’s correct. She’s now happy with Medicare because her previous insurance was awful.
Her insurance had very high deductible and out-of-pocket.
Most of a colonoscopy would have been fully covered under the ACA as a free wellness procedure (like a mammogram or an annual wellness check) as you noted. Just not the polyp-removal part of it.
But because the colonoscopy was being performed as a result of the (relatively) inexpensive cologard indicating there could be a problem, the entire colonoscopy was no longer a wellness procedure. She had to pay the thousands of dollars out of her own pocket.
I used to periodically get texts from Walgreens inviting me to participate in some drug testing study or similar. Yes, I know the source of a text can be spoofed.
Anyhow, I opted out once and they haven’t bothered me again. So I suspect it was legit.
It’s a scam. Not a week goes by (for the last 20 years) that I don’t get some kind of medical appliance or Medicare offer. None are legitimate. If you want to check, contact CVS (don’t use the number in the message) or visit a store personally.