What has been done to combat misleading advertising?
The law that deals specifically with misleading Social Security and Medicare advertising prohibits people or non-government businesses from using words or emblems that mislead others. Their advertising cannot lead people to believe that they represent or are somehow affiliated with or endorsed or approved by Social Security or the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (Medicare). In the case of a potentially misleading Social Security advertisement, Social Security’s Office of the Inspector General reviews the ad. When questioned about their ads, many people and companies voluntarily agree to stop using them or change the ads to comply with the law. However, if a voluntary agreement cannot be reached, the Office of the Inspector General will fine the offending person or company up to $5,000 for each advertisement mailed. Misleading ads concerning Medicare should be referred to the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services for review.
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