Medicare 2026

Medicare enrollment is open in Hoffman Estates — here are the scam scripts to hang up on

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — With Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period running through Dec. 7, phones across the northwest suburbs are lighting up again — and not all of the callers are who they say they are. The Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) and the Federal Trade Commission both report that scam activity spikes every fall, when fraudsters know older adults are actively weighing plan choices and expecting Medicare-related calls and mail.

Medicare 2027Hoffman Estates, IL

Here is what to watch for this season in Hoffman Estates, and the simple habits that keep your Medicare number, your money, and your coverage safe.

Why enrollment season is scam season

Between Oct. 15 and Dec. 7, people with Medicare can switch Part D drug plans, join or drop a Medicare Advantage plan, or return to Original Medicare. That means a lot of legitimate mail, TV ads, and phone activity — and scammers hide in the noise.

Hoffman Estates is in Cook County, where dozens of Medicare Advantage and Part D plans are available. With so many real options on the table, a caller claiming to "review your file" or "upgrade your card" can sound plausible. It isn't.

The scam scripts to hang up on

Here are the pitches the SMP has flagged most often heading into 2027:

"We need to issue your new Medicare card." There is no new card for 2027. The last national card reissue was the switch away from Social Security-based numbers, and that ended years ago. Anyone asking you to "verify" your Medicare number to receive a new card is fishing for it.

"We can lower your Part D costs — just confirm your information." The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027, and the maximum deductible is $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027. These are set by Medicare, not by a salesperson on the phone. A stranger cannot unlock a special rate for you.

"You qualify for a free brace, DNA test, or diabetic supplies." Free-goods pitches are one of the most common Medicare fraud schemes. If a device shows up you didn't order, don't accept it, and report it.

"This is Medicare calling about your account." Medicare does not make unsolicited calls to sell you anything or to ask for your number. Real letters from Medicare come by mail on plain paper — not with a countdown timer or a threat to cancel your benefits.

"Press 1 to keep your coverage." Robocalls with urgency built in — "your plan is being canceled," "your benefits expire tonight" — are almost always scams. Hang up.

Red flags in any Medicare conversation

• Pressure to decide today. Real enrollment decisions can wait until you've read the paperwork.
• Requests for your Medicare Number, Social Security number, or bank details. Give these only to people you contacted first.
• Door-to-door sales. CMS marketing rules prohibit unsolicited in-person plan sales.
• Gift cards or wire transfers as payment for anything Medicare-related. Never.
• Callers who already "have" your information and just need you to "confirm" it. That's a classic social-engineering move.

Simple habits that protect you

1. Treat your Medicare Number like a credit card. Only share it with your doctor, your pharmacist, your insurer, or 1-800-MEDICARE. 2. Read your Medicare Summary Notice or your plan's Explanation of Benefits each month. Look for services, dates, or providers you don't recognize. 3. If a caller claims to be from Medicare, hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) yourself. 4. Write down the number, name, and time of any suspicious call. That detail is what investigators need. 5. If you're comparing plans, do it at medicare.gov/plan-compare or with a trusted local counselor — not with a stranger who called you.

Where to get real help in Hoffman Estates

You do not have to sort this out alone, and you should not pay anyone to help you enroll.

• Illinois SHIP (Senior Health Insurance Program) offers free, unbiased Medicare counseling. Call 1-800-252-8966.
• Illinois Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) helps you spot, report, and recover from Medicare fraud. Call 1-800-699-9043.
• Medicare: 1-800-MEDICARE or medicare.gov.
• AgeOptions, the Area Agency on Aging serving suburban Cook County, can connect Hoffman Estates residents with local counselors.

If you think your Medicare Number has been compromised, report it to the SMP and to Medicare right away. The sooner suspicious billing is flagged, the easier it is to unwind.