Medicare 2026

Protect Your Medicare Number: Simple Steps to Avoid Fraud

FONTANA, Calif. — Your Medicare number is one of the most valuable pieces of information you own. Scammers know it, and every year they try new tricks to get it from older adults across the Inland Empire. The good news: a few simple habits can keep your number — and your benefits — safe.

Why Your Medicare Number Matters

Think of your Medicare number the way you think of a credit card. If a thief gets hold of it, they can bill Medicare for services you never received, medical equipment you never ordered, or tests you never took. That fraud drives up costs for everyone, and it can also clutter your medical record with false information that affects your real care later on.

Medicare doesn't call, text, or email you out of the blue to ask for your number. If someone does, that's a red flag — full stop.

Common Scams to Watch For in 2026

The Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP), a federally funded fraud-prevention program, tracks the scams older Americans report most often. In recent months, these have topped the list:

• "Free" genetic testing or DNA cheek swabs offered at health fairs, by phone, or door-to-door.
• Fake braces, catheters, or continuous glucose monitors shipped to your door after a robocall.
• Callers claiming to issue a "new" Medicare card — sometimes tied to plastic cards, chip cards, or "2026 updates." There is no new card.
• Fake plan agents who pressure you during the Annual Enrollment Period (Oct. 15 – Dec. 7) or the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (Jan. 1 – March 31).
• Phishing texts and emails that look like they come from Medicare or Social Security.

Fontana is in San Bernardino County, where dozens of Medicare Advantage and Part D plans are marketed each fall. That volume of legitimate outreach can make it harder to spot the bad actors — so slow down and verify before you share anything.

Simple Steps to Guard Your Number

1. Treat your Medicare card like a credit card. Carry it only when you need it. 2. Never give your number to anyone who calls, texts, emails, or knocks unannounced. 3. Check your Medicare Summary Notice or your online account at Medicare.gov every month. Look for services, dates, or providers you don't recognize. 4. Keep a simple health calendar. Jot down doctor visits, tests, and equipment deliveries so you can compare later. 5. Shred paperwork with your Medicare number before throwing it out. 6. Hang up on pressure. Real Medicare representatives will never threaten you or rush you.

What to Do If You Think You've Been Targeted

If you shared your Medicare number with someone you now suspect, don't panic — but act quickly:

• Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to report it.
• Contact California's Senior Medicare Patrol at 1-855-613-7080 for free, one-on-one help reviewing your statements.
• Reach out to your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) — in California it's called HICAP — for unbiased guidance.
• If your identity was stolen more broadly, report it at IdentityTheft.gov.

Medicare can, in some cases, issue a new Medicare Beneficiary Identifier if fraud is confirmed.

Key 2026 Dates and Figures to Know

Knowing what's real helps you spot what isn't. For 2026:

• The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100.
• The Part D deductible is capped at $615.
• The coverage gap ("donut hole") remains eliminated, with three payment phases in place since 2025.
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs across the year in monthly installments — you must opt in.
• IRMAA surcharges on Part B and Part D start above $109,000 in income for a single filer.
• AEP runs Oct. 15 – Dec. 7, and Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment runs Jan. 1 – March 31.

If a caller quotes figures that don't match these, that's another warning sign.