Medicare 2026

Medicare scam calls are spiking in Deming this fall — how to shut them down

DEMING, N.M. — The phones are ringing again. As the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period runs from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, callers claiming to be from "Medicare," "your new plan," or "the enrollment office" are working overtime — and Luna County residents are on the list. The good news: almost every one of these scams falls apart the moment you know the two or three rules real Medicare actually follows.

Medicare 2027Deming, NM

Why scam activity climbs every fall

Between mid-October and early December, Medicare beneficiaries make more coverage decisions than at any other time of year. Scammers know that. They also know people are already expecting mail, calls, and TV ads about Medicare, so a fake pitch blends in. In Deming — a small city where a lot of neighbors are on Medicare and word travels — one convincing script can hit dozens of households in a single afternoon.

The Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP), a federally funded program that helps people spot and report fraud, says the volume of scam reports rises sharply during the Annual Enrollment Period and again during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (Jan. 1 – March 31).

The scams showing up most often

The "new Medicare card" call. Someone says a new card is being issued — plastic, chip-enabled, with better benefits — and they just need to "verify" your Medicare number. Medicare is not issuing new cards. Your red-white-and-blue card is still valid.

The "your plan is changing" call. A caller claims your current plan is leaving the area and they can move you "before the Dec. 7 deadline." Real plan changes are communicated by mail in the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) each September. If a plan is truly leaving your service area, you'll get a written notice — not a surprise phone call.

The door knock. Licensed agents are not allowed to show up at your home uninvited to sell a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan. That is a CMS marketing rule, not a suggestion.

The "free" offer. Free braces, free genetic testing, free diabetic supplies, free grocery cards — in exchange for your Medicare number. Once they have that number, they can bill Medicare for equipment you never received, which can put your own coverage and records at risk.

The fake refund or IRMAA call. Someone claims you're owed a refund, or that you owe an IRMAA surcharge and must pay by gift card or wire. IRMAA (the higher-income surcharge that starts above $109,000 for a single filer in 2026) is handled through Social Security, in writing, and is never collected by gift card.

Five rules that stop almost every scam

1. Medicare will not call you out of the blue. If someone says they're from Medicare and asks for your number, hang up. 2. Your Medicare number is like a Social Security number. Give it only to your doctor, your pharmacist, your SHIP counselor, or an agent you called first. 3. There is no "special enrollment" a stranger can unlock for you. Enrollment periods are set by law: AEP is Oct. 15 – Dec. 7, and Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment is Jan. 1 – March 31. 4. Pressure is the tell. "Sign today or lose coverage" is not how legitimate Medicare help works. 5. Check your Medicare Summary Notice or online account. Watch for charges for services or equipment you didn't receive.

What real help looks like in Deming

Deming is in Luna County, where residents can compare plan options through official, no-cost channels. If you want a human being to walk you through your choices:

• Medicare.gov lets you compare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans side by side using your own drug list.
• 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) is staffed 24/7.
• New Mexico's SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program), called Benefits Counseling locally, offers free one-on-one counseling. You can reach it through the New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department at 1-800-432-2080.
• Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) is the place to report suspected fraud, also reachable at 1-800-432-2080 in New Mexico.

None of these will ever ask you to pay to help you, and none will cold-call you asking for your Medicare number.

If you think you've already been scammed

Don't be embarrassed — these scripts are designed by professionals. Do these three things:

1. Write down what happened: date, phone number, what was said, what information you shared. 2. Call the SMP at 1-800-432-2080 or 1-800-MEDICARE. 3. Check your Medicare statements for the next several months for charges you don't recognize. If you shared bank or card information, call your bank right away.

Sharing your Medicare number by mistake doesn't automatically mean fraud will happen — but it does mean you should watch your account and report it so investigators can connect the dots.