Medicare 2026

Norwalk Medicare enrollment: five scam tactics circulating before Dec. 7

NORWALK, Conn. — The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period is open through Dec. 7, and along with the usual mailers and TV ads comes a familiar seasonal problem: a spike in scam calls, texts and door knocks aimed at older adults. The Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP), a federally funded fraud-prevention program, reports that October through early December is when con artists work hardest, because they know beneficiaries are expecting to hear from someone about their coverage.

Norwalk is in Fairfield County, where dozens of Medicare Advantage and Part D plans were available for 2026; the 2027 lineup is detailed in each plan's Annual Notice of Change and on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder. That variety is good for choice, but it also gives scammers cover — a caller can plausibly claim to be from "your plan" or "the new Medicare office" and hope you don't ask questions. Here is what is going around this fall and how to shut it down.

The "new 2027 Medicare card" call

One of the most common scripts this season claims that because of "big changes for 2027," you need a new Medicare card, a new number, or to "reactivate" your benefits. The caller then asks you to confirm your Medicare number, Social Security number or bank details.

There is no new card. The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027, and the coverage gap was eliminated in 2025, but none of those changes require you to do anything with your card. Medicare will never call you out of the blue to ask for your number.

The fake "benefits" pitch

Watch for calls, texts or Facebook ads offering extra money for groceries, rent, gas or utilities "through your Medicare." The pitch often mentions a "flex card" or "spending allowance" available to everyone. Some Medicare Advantage plans do include supplemental benefits, but they vary by plan, are not universal, and are never sold through a random text.

If the ad asks you to press 1, click a link or hand over your Medicare number to "see if you qualify," it is a lead-generation trap at best and identity theft at worst.

Door-to-door and "in-home" visits

Under Medicare marketing rules, agents are not allowed to show up at your home uninvited to sell a plan. They also can't call you unless you have given permission. If someone rings your bell in Norwalk claiming to be from Medicare, from Social Security, or from "the plan review office," you do not have to let them in and you should not share any personal information.

A real licensed agent will schedule an appointment, identify the specific carrier they represent, and give you a Scope of Appointment form to sign before discussing plans.

Pressure to switch "before it's too late"

Scammers lean hard on the Dec. 7 deadline. A high-pressure caller who insists you'll "lose your Medicare" if you don't act today is not on your side. The reality:

• If you do nothing during AEP, your current coverage generally rolls into next year.
• If you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you get a second window Jan. 1 – March 31 to switch Advantage plans or return to Original Medicare.
• Nobody from Medicare will threaten to cancel your coverage on a phone call.

How to protect your Medicare number

Treat your Medicare number like a credit card. A few habits go a long way:

• Never give it out to someone who called you.
• Don't accept "free" braces, DNA test kits, or diabetic supplies offered by phone or at a health fair in exchange for your number.
• Review your Medicare Summary Notice or MyMedicare.gov account for services or equipment you don't recognize.
• If something looks off, report it to the Connecticut Senior Medicare Patrol before you assume it's a billing mistake.

Where Norwalk residents can get real help

For personalized questions, use free, unbiased resources — not the number on a suspicious flyer:

• Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) for official information and to report fraud.
• CHOICES, Connecticut's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), for one-on-one counseling.
• Connecticut Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) to report suspected Medicare fraud or errors.
• The Norwalk Senior Center often hosts Medicare information sessions during AEP.