Medicare 2026

Medicare Scams Spike Before Dec. 7: How Moline Can Stay Safe

MOLINE, Ill. — With the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period running through December 7, phones across Rock Island County are ringing more than usual. Some of those calls are legitimate. Many are not. Federal fraud investigators and Illinois' Senior Medicare Patrol say scam attempts always climb during fall enrollment, when older adults are actively thinking about their coverage and more likely to pick up an unfamiliar call.

Here's what Moline residents should watch for this season, and the simple habits that shut most scams down fast.

Why the scams get louder right now

Between October 15 and December 7, people with Medicare can change their Part D drug plan, switch between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, or move to a different Advantage plan. Scammers know this window well. They also know 2026 brings real changes worth talking about — a new $2,100 out-of-pocket cap on Part D drug costs, a $615 maximum Part D deductible, and the optional Medicare Prescription Payment Plan that lets people spread drug costs across the year.

Those genuine updates give con artists a script. A caller who mentions the "new $2,100 cap" or a "new Medicare card" can sound convincing — especially to someone who hasn't heard about the changes yet.

The scams showing up most this fall

The fake "new card" call. A caller says Medicare is issuing new plastic or chip-enabled cards for 2026 and just needs to "verify" your Medicare number. Medicare is not issuing new cards. Your Medicare number is as sensitive as your Social Security number.

The pushy "agent" at the door or on the phone. Licensed agents are not allowed to show up uninvited, cold-call you, or pressure you to enroll on the spot. If someone says "I only have today to sign you up," that's a red flag, not a deadline.

The "free" gift or benefit hook. Offers of free groceries, gift cards, back braces, or genetic testing kits in exchange for your Medicare number are almost always a setup for billing fraud.

Fake Medicare websites and texts. Look-alike sites and texts with urgent links ("confirm your 2026 benefits now") are designed to harvest your information. Medicare will not text you asking for personal details.

IRMAA and "refund" scams. Some callers claim you're owed a refund or that you owe a surcharge and must pay by gift card. The real income-related surcharge (IRMAA) starts above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026 and is handled through Social Security — never by phone demand.

Five habits that stop most scams cold

1. Guard your Medicare number like a credit card. Share it only with your doctor, pharmacist, or trusted providers. 2. Hang up on pressure. Real Medicare help does not come with a countdown clock. 3. Don't click links in unexpected texts or emails. Go directly to medicare.gov instead. 4. Check your Medicare Summary Notice or online claims for services you didn't get. Early catches are easier to fix. 5. Get a second opinion before enrolling. A free call to Illinois SHIP or 1-800-MEDICARE costs nothing and can confirm whether an offer is real.

Where Moline residents can get real help

Moline is in Rock Island County, and like the rest of the Quad Cities, it has a healthy number of Medicare Advantage and Part D options available — which is exactly why scammers target the area during enrollment. Comparing plans should always happen through official tools or a licensed, invited source, not a stranger on the phone.

Free, unbiased help is available from:

• Illinois SHIP (Senior Health Insurance Program): 1-800-252-8966 — personalized, one-on-one counseling.
• Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) of Illinois: 1-800-699-9043 — for reporting suspected fraud.
• 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227): 24/7 official help.
• Medicare.gov: the only official Medicare website.