Medicare 2026

Protect Your Medicare Number: Simple Fraud Defenses for Dundalk

DUNDALK, Md. — Your Medicare number is a lot like a credit card number. In the wrong hands, it can be used to bill the government for care you never received, drain benefits you may need later, and tangle up your medical records. The good news: a few simple habits can keep it safe, and there are trusted places to turn if something looks off.

Why your Medicare number matters

Your Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) is the 11-character code on your red, white, and blue card. Scammers want it because they can use it to bill Medicare for fake equipment, tests, or services. That doesn't just cost the program money — it can also affect what future care Medicare will cover for you if records show you already "received" something.

In Dundalk, seniors have been targeted by phone calls, texts, and even door-knockers offering "free" braces, genetic tests, or a "new Medicare card." These are common bait tactics. Medicare doesn't work that way.

Simple rules to keep your number safe

A few habits go a long way:

• Guard the card. Carry it only when you need it for an appointment. Otherwise, keep it at home in a safe spot.
• Hang up on cold callers. Medicare will not call you out of the blue and ask for your MBI, Social Security number, or bank information.
• Ignore "free" offers tied to your number. If someone at a health fair, a booth, or your front door offers a free knee brace, DNA test, or COVID kit in exchange for your Medicare number, walk away.
• Don't share it on social media. Not in a post, not in a message, not in a comment.
• Shred old paperwork. Medicare Summary Notices and pharmacy receipts have information a thief can piece together.

How to spot fraud on your statements

Every three months, Original Medicare sends a Medicare Summary Notice (MSN). If you have a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, you'll get an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) from your plan. You can also see claims anytime by logging in at Medicare.gov.

Look for:

• Services or equipment you don't recognize.
• Duplicate charges for the same visit.
• A provider's name you've never heard of.
• Dates when you weren't at the doctor.

Small errors happen and are often just billing mix-ups. But a pattern of odd charges is worth reporting.

Local help in Dundalk and Baltimore County

Dundalk is in Baltimore County, and residents have free, unbiased help nearby. Maryland's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) — called SHIP/MAP here — offers one-on-one Medicare counseling. Maryland's Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) is the program specifically trained to help you spot, stop, and report Medicare fraud.

You can reach both through the Maryland Department of Aging at 1-800-AGE-DIAG (1-800-243-3425). The Baltimore County Department of Aging also hosts local counseling sessions at senior centers throughout the county, including near Dundalk.

What to do if you think you've been scammed

Don't feel embarrassed — these schemes are designed to fool careful people. Take these steps:

1. Write down what happened: the date, the caller's name or number, and what they asked for. 2. Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to report it. 3. Contact Maryland SMP for help walking through your statements. 4. If you shared financial information, contact your bank and consider a fraud alert with the credit bureaus. 5. If your Medicare card is lost or stolen, you can request a new one at Medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.

A quick note on the 2027 rules

Scammers often use "new year, new rules" to trick people into handing over information. Yes, 2027 brings real changes — the Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027, the maximum Part D deductible is $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027, and the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan continues to let you spread drug costs across the year. But none of these changes require you to give your Medicare number to a stranger. If someone says otherwise, it's a scam.