Medicare 2026

Medicare fraud protection for Sitka cardholders

SITKA, Alaska — Your red, white and blue Medicare card is small, but the number on it is one of the most valuable pieces of identification you own. In the wrong hands, it can be used to bill Medicare for services you never received, drain benefits you may need later, and tangle your medical records for years.

Here in Southeast Alaska, where many neighbors get care through a mix of local clinics, travel to Anchorage or Seattle, and telehealth visits, that number moves through a lot of hands. A few simple habits can keep it safe.

Treat your Medicare number like a credit card

Your Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) — the 11-character code on your card — is the key to your Medicare account. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) advise treating it with the same care you'd give a credit card or Social Security number.

That means:

• Carry your card only when you need it for an appointment.
• Don't share the number over the phone unless you placed the call to a trusted provider, insurer, or 1-800-MEDICARE.
• Don't post photos of your card on social media, even partially covered.
• Shred old statements, explanation of benefits notices, and mailings before tossing them.

Know the scams making the rounds

Scammers change their pitch with the seasons, but a few patterns are common in Alaska and nationwide:

• "Free" braces, genetic tests, or COVID supplies. A caller offers something at no cost if you just "verify" your Medicare number. Medicare doesn't sell items door-to-door or cold-call you.
• Fake plan salespeople. Someone shows up claiming to represent Medicare itself. Medicare has no salespeople. Real licensed agents cannot show up uninvited or pressure you to enroll on the spot.
• "You need a new card." Callers say your card is being upgraded to plastic or a chip version. There is no new card. If a replacement is ever needed, you request it — not the other way around.
• Telehealth and hospice fraud. Fraudsters bill Medicare for visits or services that never happened, using a real beneficiary's number.

If someone pressures you, hangs up when questioned, or asks for payment in gift cards, that is a scam. Period.

Read your Medicare Summary Notice — it's your best defense

Every three months, Original Medicare mails a Medicare Summary Notice (MSN). If you're in a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, you receive an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) from your plan. You can also view claims anytime by creating a free account at MyMedicare.gov.

Look for:

• Services or dates you don't recognize.
• Providers you've never seen.
• Duplicate charges for the same visit.
• Equipment (like back braces or catheters) you never received.

Reporting an odd charge early makes it much easier to fix.

What's new for 2026 and 2027 — and why fraudsters may exploit it

A few real Medicare changes are in effect now, with more arriving in 2027, and scammers love to twist real news into a hook:

• Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Once your prescription drug costs reach that amount, you pay nothing for covered drugs the rest of the year.
• Part D deductible maximum: $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027.
• The coverage gap ("donut hole") is gone as of 2025, replaced by a simpler three-phase structure.
• Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs across the year in monthly payments instead of paying a big bill at the pharmacy counter.
• IRMAA surcharges for higher-income beneficiaries begin above $109,000 for a single filer in 2026.

Expect calls claiming they can "sign you up" for the new out-of-pocket cap or the payment plan in exchange for your Medicare number. You don't need to sign up for the cap — it's automatic. The payment plan is requested through your drug plan directly, not a stranger.

Local plan choices exist, but they don't change the rules

Sitka is in Sitka Borough (treated as a county for Medicare purposes), where Medicare Advantage and stand-alone Part D options are offered through several carriers. No matter which plan you have — or if you stay with Original Medicare — the same protections apply: your MBI is yours, and no legitimate plan needs you to hand it over to a cold caller.

The Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7, and the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 through March 31. Those windows are also peak scam season, so be extra cautious about unexpected calls and door-knockers during those months.

If you think your number was stolen

Act quickly, but don't panic. Steps to take:

1. Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to report suspicious charges. 2. Contact the Alaska Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP), which helps beneficiaries investigate and report fraud. 3. Reach out to Alaska's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for free, unbiased help understanding your notices. 4. Consider placing a fraud alert with the major credit bureaus if your Social Security number was also exposed.

Medicare can issue a new MBI if your number has been compromised — you will not lose your coverage in the process.