Medicare 2026

How Aurora residents can spot Medicare number scams

AURORA, Colo. — Your Medicare card is small, but the number on it opens a big door. Scammers know that, and they work hard to trick older adults in Aurora and across Arapahoe County into handing it over. The good news: a few simple habits can keep your number, your identity, and your benefits safe.

Why your Medicare number matters so much

Your Medicare Number is tied to your health records, your billing, and — because it once was your Social Security number for many people — sometimes even your financial identity. If a scammer gets it, they can bill Medicare for services you never received, order equipment in your name, or use your information to open other accounts.

Medicare pays out billions each year, and fraudulent billing drives up costs for the whole program. When fake claims pile up on your record, they can also create real problems, like reaching a coverage limit for a service you actually need later.

Common scams to watch for in Aurora

Fraud tends to spike around the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7) and the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 – March 31), because scammers know people expect calls about coverage. Watch for these patterns:

• Phone calls claiming to be from "Medicare" offering a new card, a refund, or a free benefit if you "verify" your number.
• Door-to-door visits pitching plans or free medical equipment. Legitimate plan agents cannot show up uninvited.
• Free gift or grocery card offers in exchange for your Medicare Number or a doctor's referral.
• Genetic testing or brace scams, often at health fairs or through robocalls, that ask for your card to "bill Medicare."
• Fake IRMAA or Part D notices that pressure you to pay by gift card or wire transfer.

If someone rushes you, threatens you, or asks for payment in an unusual way, that is your cue to hang up.

Simple rules that stop most fraud

You don't have to be a tech expert to protect yourself. A short checklist goes a long way:

• Only share your Medicare Number with your doctor, pharmacist, insurer, or 1-800-MEDICARE.
• Carry your card only when you need it. A photocopy with the last four digits blacked out is safer for daily use.
• Check every Medicare Summary Notice (Original Medicare) or Explanation of Benefits (Medicare Advantage or Part D) for services or dates that look wrong.
• Keep a simple log of doctor visits, tests, and equipment so you can compare it to your statements.
• Never accept "free" medical supplies in exchange for your number.

Remember, Medicare will not call you to sell a plan, and it will not text you asking to confirm personal information.

What to do if you think you've been targeted

If you shared your number by mistake, or you see a charge you don't recognize, act quickly but calmly. First, call the provider listed on the notice — sometimes it's a simple billing error. If it isn't, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or contact Colorado's Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP), a free program trained to investigate suspected Medicare fraud.

You can also request a new Medicare Number if yours has been compromised. Medicare can issue a replacement card without changing your coverage.

How local help works

Aurora is in Arapahoe County, where a wide range of Medicare Advantage and Part D plans are offered each year — which is exactly why scam calls tend to be so common in the metro area. For unbiased, one-on-one help comparing options or reviewing a suspicious notice, contact Colorado's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), also called the Colorado SHIP. Counselors do not sell insurance and do not earn commissions.

For 2027, a few program-level facts are worth remembering so you can spot when something sounds "off":

• Part D has a $2,400 out-of-pocket cap on covered drugs in 2027.
• The Part D deductible is capped at $700 in 2027.
• The old coverage gap ("donut hole") was eliminated in 2025 — Part D now has three phases.
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs across the year, at no extra charge.
• IRMAA surcharges for higher-income beneficiaries start above $109,000 for a single filer in 2026.

If a caller offers you something that contradicts these rules, that's a red flag.