Medicare 2026

Spotting Medicare Scams Before the Dec. 7 Deadline

OCALA, Fla. — As Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period runs through December 7, scammers are working the phones, mailboxes, and front doors of Marion County harder than ever. Every fall, the Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) sees a spike in fraud attempts aimed at older adults who are simply trying to review their coverage for 2027. Knowing what a scam sounds like — before you answer that call — is the easiest way to protect yourself.

Here's what Ocala residents should watch for this season, and where to turn if something feels off.

Why fraud spikes between October and December

Open Enrollment is loud. TV ads, mailers, and robocalls all ramp up at once, and scammers use that noise as cover. They know you're expecting to hear about Medicare right now, so a stranger calling about "your new 2027 benefits" doesn't immediately feel suspicious.

A few real changes for 2027 give scammers fresh material to twist:

• The Part D out-of-pocket cap on covered drugs is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027.
• The Part D maximum deductible is $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027.
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets people spread drug costs across the year.
• IRMAA surcharges kick in above $109,000 in income for single filers.

These are real program facts — but fraudsters bend them into pitches like "you have to re-enroll to get the new cap" or "call now to activate your $2,400 benefit." None of that is how Medicare works.

The most common scams this enrollment season

1. The "new Medicare card" call. Someone claims a new card is being issued for 2027 and asks you to "verify" your Medicare number. Medicare is not reissuing cards. Your number is as sensitive as a Social Security number — never give it to an unsolicited caller.

2. Door-to-door "helpers." Licensed agents are not allowed to show up at your door uninvited to sell a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan. If someone knocks and starts pitching, that alone is a red flag.

3. Free gifts, gift cards, or cash for signing up. Offering money, groceries, or gifts in exchange for enrolling is against CMS marketing rules. Legitimate agents don't do it.

4. Fake "Medicare advisors." Callers or texts may claim to be from "Medicare Headquarters" or "the Medicare Benefits Center." Those offices don't exist. Medicare will not cold-call you.

5. Genetic testing, braces, and DME scams. You may be offered a "free" cheek swab, back brace, or knee brace "covered by Medicare." Scammers bill Medicare thousands under your number — and if the item wasn't medically necessary, you can end up on the hook.

6. Phony Part D "smoothing" pitches. The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan is real and free. Anyone charging a fee to enroll you in it is scamming you.

Simple rules that stop most scams cold

• Medicare will not call, text, or email you out of the blue. If someone does, hang up.
• Never share your Medicare number, Social Security number, or bank info with an unexpected caller.
• Guard your Medicare card like a credit card.
• Check your Medicare Summary Notice or your MyMedicare.gov account for charges you don't recognize.
• If a deal has a deadline of "today," that pressure is the scam. AEP runs through December 7, and Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment gives another window from January 1 to March 31.

What plan shopping should actually look like in Marion County

Ocala is in Marion County, where a wide range of Medicare Advantage and Part D plans are offered each year through private insurers approved by Medicare. The specific number of plans and carriers available shifts annually, and you can see the current county-level list at Medicare.gov's Plan Finder.

A legitimate comparison — whether you do it yourself or with a licensed agent — should involve your drug list, your doctors, and your budget. It should never involve pressure, gifts, or a demand for your Medicare number over the phone before you've agreed to anything.

If you think you've been targeted

Reporting matters, even if you didn't lose money. It helps investigators spot patterns and shut scams down faster.

• Florida Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP): 1-866-357-6677
• Medicare: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227)
• Florida SHINE (the state's SHIP program, free unbiased counseling): 1-800-963-5337
• FTC: ReportFraud.ftc.gov

Local SHINE counselors serve Marion County and can sit down with you at no cost to review a mailer or a call you're unsure about.