California Health Advocates

08/20/2026

🚨 AI scams targeting older adults are exploding — and they are more convincing than ever. Here's what you need to know.

Artificial intelligence has given scammers powerful new tools — including the ability to clone voices, create deepfake videos, and generate hyper-personalized messages that can fool even the most savvy person. And older adults are bearing the brunt of it.

The numbers below from the Federal Trade Commission and Federal Bureau of Investigation are alarming:

--AI-powered fraud targeting older adults has increased over 52% since 2022
--Americans age 60+ lost an estimated $81 billion to fraud in just the last year
--Real victims have lost anywhere from their life savings to over $1 million in a single scheme

Real stories include a father who received a call that sounded exactly like his son saying he was in jail — it wasn't him. A woman whose mother fell in love with a deepfake and lost everything. Another who lost her life savings to scammers posing as government officials.

Here's how these AI scams work:

🎭 Impersonation — scammers pose as family members, police, or your bank using cloned voices and deepfake videos
⏰ Urgency — they pressure you to act immediately before you have time to think
💳 Untraceable payments — they ask for gift cards, cryptocurrency, or cash
📵 Isolation — they keep you on the line and tell you not to call anyone for help

The good news is there are free resource to help. One such resources is Adaptive Security, which has a free, 20 minute interactive training course to help older adults and their families recognize and stop AI-powered scams.

The course:

- Is short (20 minutes)
- Is available in 14 languages including Spanish, Mandarin, Arabic, and more
- Includes real stories from people who were targeted
- Teaches you how to verify calls, messages, and videos
- Includes guidance from a former FBI agent on reporting and legal resources

Please share this information with the older adults and caregivers in your life. Knowledge is the best protection against these scams 💛

🔗 Learn more → adaptivesecurity.com/protecting-older-adults

Report any suspected Medicare fraud to the California Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) at 1-855-613-7080.

08/19/2026

Thank you for sharing this info, National Council on Aging!
From the farmers who grow our food to families who rely on to help put meals on the table, the program strengthens communities across the country.
Join the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) this week for the SNAP Week of Action to raise awareness about why investing in SNAP matters. 🍏 🥛 🍞

➡️ Learn more: https://bit.ly/4qfortY
➡️ And check out FRAC's SNAP Challenge: https://bit.ly/4qkBoTB

08/18/2026

🏆✨ While we shared this news earlier this month, it's now posted as an article on our website and we wanted to keep the celebration going! 😍🌟

In case you missed it, our very own Catherina Isidro, CHA Executive Director and California SMP Statewide Director, received the prestigious Barbara McGinity National SMP Leadership Award at the Administration for Community Living's national conference in Washington, D.C. earlier this month!

This honor — nominated by fellow SMP directors, staff, and colleagues from across the United States — recognizes individuals who foster collaboration and creativity, take initiative to constantly improve outreach and education, and empower their staff and volunteers to achieve results in support of the SMP mission.

And Catherina embodies every single one of those qualities. 💛

Here's what her colleagues and peers said about her:

💬 "She dives into challenges, brings people together, and inspires people to learn and do their best."

💬 "An inspiring leader and a person who leads and serves with her heart — thanks to her leadership, we are now an SMP 2.0."

💬 "Her leadership is grounded in empathy, clarity, and accountability, creating an environment where collaboration is not only encouraged but expected."

💬 "Her willingness to take initiative and drive meaningful improvement — whether piloting new approaches to fraud prevention education or refining internal systems — models the proactive, forward-thinking leadership that keeps SMP responsive to emerging needs."

💬 "Her collaborative spirit has opened doors for innovative partnerships and broadened the impact of our program statewide."

We couldn't agree more. 💛

Catherina leads with her heart, passion, vision, and joy — and lifts everyone around her to do the same. This award is richly deserved, and we are so proud and grateful to work alongside her every single day.

Join us in congratulating Catherina Isidro! 🎉🌟

Read more here: https://cahealthadvocates.org/catherina-isidro-receives-national-smp-leadership-award/

08/17/2026

The National Council on Aging has released a new Era of Care, research that reveals that artificial intelligence is already being used in home care facilities. Nicole Howell sits down

08/14/2026

Watch out for emails saying you have won a Medicare kit! These emails might look like they are coming from recognizable places but they are scammers trying to get your information. 😬 They want you to click links in the email. 🤨

Please report these emails to our California SMP right away at 1-855-613-7080 or online at californiasmp.org.

08/12/2026

Have you ever had to visit the ER while traveling and you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan? It's good to remember that Medicare Advantage plans must cover emergency care anywhere in the U.S., even outside of their network.

To learn more about emergency room coverage, costs, follow-up care, and your rights under Medicare, visit:

Learn how Medicare covers emergency and urgently needed care, whether you are at home or traveling. Get clear answers about your benefits, eligibility, and what to expect when you need urgent medical attention.

08/11/2026

🌟🙌😍 — Save the Date for our 3rd Annual CHA & California SMP Annual Conference Week!
📅 January 11–15, 2027
📍 Kimpton Sawyer Hotel | Sacramento, California
➡ Registration is NOW OPEN!

Join us for a wonderful week of learning, collaboration, networking, and advocacy — all focused on strengthening Medicare and improving the lives of beneficiaries and older adults across California!

Here's the line-up:

🏥 3rd Annual California Health Advocates Conference — January 11–13
Connect with health care professionals, policymakers, HICAP staff, advocates, and community partners as we explore the latest in Medicare, Medi-Cal, aging, and health care policy.

🏛️ Day at the Capitol — Wednesday, January 13
Join colleagues and advocates at the California State Capitol to meet with legislators and elevate the voices of older Californians on important healthcare and aging issues.
🛡️ 2027 California SMP Annual Conference — January 14–15
Learn from experts, share best practices, and connect with the passionate and dedicated SMP community from across California — all working together to prevent Medicare fraud, waste, and abuse.

🎤 Interested in presenting? Check out our Call for Presenters on our conference webpage — submissions due August 20, 2026!
🤝 Sponsors and exhibitors welcome! A wonderful opportunity to showcase your organization and connect with the health advocacy community statewide.

Whether you attend one day or the whole week — you'll leave inspired, informed, and connected. 💛

🔗 Register now and learn more → https://cahealthadvocates.org/conference/

08/10/2026

Some Medicare beneficiaries are receiving new Medicare cards with new numbers. Medicare is sending these new cards with a letter explaining why a new number has been issued.

If you aren’t sure if mail from Medicare is legitimate, call 1-800-Medicare and ask.

08/06/2026

📬 Our August Newsletter is here! Here's a peek at what's inside 👇

🌎 New Federal Public Charge Rule — What Older Immigrant Californians Need to Know: A new federal rule takes effect in mid-September that could create fear and confusion among older immigrants about using Medicare, Medi-Cal, and other health benefits. We break down what the rule means, who it does and doesn't affect, and where to get trusted help.

💰 Two New Bills to Strengthen Medicare & Save Trillions: The Saving MEDICARE Act takes direct aim at the $76 billion in annual overpayments to Medicare Advantage insurers — with projected savings of $2.5 trillion over 10 years that could fund dental, vision, and hearing coverage for all beneficiaries. Plus, the Medicare Cost Cap Act would create a $5,000 out-of-pocket cap in Traditional Medicare.

🏠 Moving? What You Need to Know About Your Medicare Coverage: A move across town — or across the country — can affect your Medicare coverage in ways you might not expect. Our new article covers what to do before and after your move to avoid coverage gaps.

📋 Bonnie Burns Weighs In on the Medigap Birthday Rule: CHA's Bonnie Burns submitted comments to the NAIC making the case that the Birthday Rule is NOT driving Medigap premium increases — and why Medicare beneficiaries deserve the same annual right to switch Medigap plans as they have to switch Medicare Advantage plans.

🚨 New Scam Alert — Fake "Call Transfers" to Social Security: Scammers are impersonating retailers and banks, then "transferring" you to a fake SSA representative. Remember: no legitimate company can transfer your call directly to Social Security. If it happens — it's a scam, every time.

🏥 Hospice Fraud Warning: Beneficiaries are being tricked into signing up for hospice when they thought they were signing up for programs offering food, care items, and more. Check your Medicare statements and report concerns to California SMP at 1-855-613-7080.

🏆 BIG Congratulations to Catherina Isidro! Our CHA Executive Director and CA SMP Statewide Director received the prestigious Barbara McGinity SMP Leadership Award at the national SMP conference in Washington, D.C. — nominated by SMP directors and colleagues from across the country. We are SO proud! 🎉😍🙌

📅 Save the Date — CHA & SMP Annual Conference Week, January 11–15, 2027 in Sacramento! Registration is open.
Plus our next free webinar is August 27 on Skilled Nursing Facility transfer and discharge rights.

👉 Read the full August newsletter here → https://mailchi.mp/cahealthadvocates/new-federal-public-charge-rule-what-it-means-for-californias-older-immigrants?e=[UNIQID]

08/04/2026

Live from Washington, DC at the Office of Healthcare Information and Counseling (OHIC) National Conference - we have some great news! 😍🌟
Catherina Isidro, our CHA Executive Director and California SMP Statewide Director received the Barbara McGinity Leadership Award! This award marks national recognition and honor as she was nominated by fellow directors, staff and colleagues from across the United States.

This prestigious national award recognizes an inspiring leader who serves as "a champion for all" and is an active advocate for beneficiaries, their families and caregivers in the fight against health care fraud, errors and abuse. A Director whose vision, leadership and contributions have advanced the mission of the program and positively influenced communities nationwide.

Congratulations Catherina!! You are an amazing leader, leading with your heart, dedication, passion, vision, and with the ability to lift and inspire those around you to spread our SMP mission with love, creativity, integrity, dedication and JOY! We celebrate you and are thrilled to see you receive this great and well deserved honor! 🌟💛🌟