People who try to cheat the healthcare system end up costing taxpayers money every year. That is why leaders are meeting to discuss methods to combat the problem.

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder started a series of summits in Florida this month.

"Thanks to new tools contained in the Affordable Care Act, we are more prepared than ever to safeguard taxpayer dollars and ensure that the health care coverage of our seniors, families and children is secure," says Sebelius.

During the summit, panel discussions for health care providers and law enforcement officials were held. Seniors could also take part in sessions to become educated on how to detect and report Medicare fraud. Consumers should be suspicious of suppliers who offer free equipment or services in exchange for a Medicare number, for example.

Healthcare fraud results in wasted taxpayer money and people paying more for health insurance. The government says that more than $2.5 billion was put back into the Medicare Trust Fund last year as a result of their anti-fraud efforts.