Medicare 2026

In Somersworth, your Medicare number is the key scammers want most

SOMERSWORTH, N.H. — The small red, white and blue card in your wallet may look ordinary, but to a scammer it is a jackpot. Your Medicare number is tied to your health history, your billing records and thousands of dollars in potential claims. That is why fraud rings work so hard to trick people in Strafford County and across New Hampshire into reading those digits out loud.

The good news: a few simple habits can keep your number safe, and free help is close by if something feels off.

Why your Medicare number is such a target

A stolen credit card can be canceled in minutes. A Medicare number is much harder to replace, and it unlocks a lifetime of health information. Fraudsters use it to bill Medicare for services you never got, order equipment in your name, or open fake accounts. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) removed Social Security numbers from Medicare cards in 2018 for exactly this reason, but the replacement Medicare Beneficiary Identifier is still valuable on the black market.

Somersworth is in Strafford County, where — like the rest of New Hampshire — residents see the same national scam patterns: robocalls, fake "Medicare agents" at the door, and text messages that look official.

Common scams to watch for in 2026 and 2027 and 2027

Scam scripts change, but the playbook stays similar. Be alert if someone:

• Calls claiming your Medicare card is being "upgraded," "reissued as plastic," or "linked to a new chip." None of that is happening.
• Offers free braces, genetic tests, diabetic supplies or COVID-era kits in exchange for your Medicare number.
• Says they are from Medicare and threatens to cancel your benefits unless you "verify" personal information.
• Pressures you at a health fair, gym or senior center to hand over your card for a "quick eligibility check."
• Sends a text with a suspicious link about your Part D coverage or the out-of-pocket cap (which is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027).

Real Medicare communication comes by mail. Genuine plan representatives cannot legally cold-call you to enroll you in a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan.

How to guard your card day to day

Think of your Medicare card the way you would a passport. Carry it when you need it — a doctor visit, a new pharmacy, a hospital stay — and store it safely the rest of the time. A few practical steps:

• Keep a photo of the card on a locked phone, or a photocopy at home, so you do not have to carry the original everywhere.
• Only share the number with your doctor, hospital, pharmacist, licensed insurance agent you already work with, or Medicare itself.
• Shred old Medicare paperwork, prescription labels and Summary Notices before tossing them.
• Never post a photo of your card on social media, even partially covered.
• Hang up on unsolicited callers. You can always call back using the number on the back of your card or 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

Read your statements like a bank statement

Every few months, Medicare mails a Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) if you have Original Medicare, or your Advantage or Part D plan sends an Explanation of Benefits (EOB). Open them. Look for:

• Dates of service you do not remember.
• Providers you have never seen.
• Equipment, tests or supplies you did not receive.
• Duplicate charges for the same visit.

Catching a strange charge early is the single best fraud defense. Even a small billing error is worth a phone call.

What to do if you think you have been scammed

If you have already shared your Medicare number, do not panic — and do not stay silent. In New Hampshire, the Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) helps people sort out suspected fraud, errors and abuse at no cost. You can also:

• Call 1-800-MEDICARE and ask them to note your account.
• Report the incident at Medicare.gov/fraud.
• Contact the ServiceLink Resource Center, which houses New Hampshire's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) and serves Somersworth residents with free, unbiased Medicare counseling.
• File a report with the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov if money changed hands.

Medicare can, in serious cases, issue a new Medicare number and card.

A quick note on 2027 changes scammers may exploit

Any time Medicare changes, scammers try to ride the news. In 2026, Part D has a $2,100 out-of-pocket cap, the maximum Part D deductible is $615, and the optional Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs across the year. IRMAA surcharges kick in above $109,000 in income for a single filer. These are program-wide facts, not offers — no one from "Medicare" needs your number to "activate" them.

The Annual Enrollment Period runs Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, and Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment runs Jan. 1 to March 31. Those windows tend to bring a spike in scam calls, so stay especially cautious then.