Medicare 2026

Dallas Medicare AEP: what changes before December 7

DALLAS — With the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period running through December 7, phones across North Texas are ringing off the hook — and not all of those callers are who they claim to be. Federal investigators and the Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) say enrollment season is peak season for fraud, when scammers pose as agents, "Medicare officials," or even helpful neighbors to pry loose personal information.

Here's how to spot the most common tricks this fall, and where Dallas-area beneficiaries can turn for real help.

Why enrollment season is a scammer's favorite time of year

Between October 15 and December 7, beneficiaries expect to hear from insurance agents, see TV ads, and get mail about Medicare. Fraudsters know that. They blend into the noise, hoping a rushed or confused shopper will hand over a Medicare number, a bank account, or a Social Security number.

The Federal Trade Commission and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General have both flagged an uptick in Medicare-related scam calls during fall enrollment. Losses go beyond dollars: a stolen Medicare number can be used for billing fraud that follows a person for years.

The scams making the rounds in Dallas this fall

Local SMP volunteers say these are the pitches showing up most often:

• The "new Medicare card" call. A caller says your card is being updated for 2027 and they just need to "confirm" your number. Medicare is not reissuing cards, and it doesn't cold-call you to verify anything.
• The fake benefits pitch. Callers promise extra money for groceries, rent, or gas if you switch plans today. Some real plans do include supplemental benefits, but no legitimate agent can promise them sight unseen — and no one from Medicare hands them out over the phone.
• The door knocker. Under CMS marketing rules, licensed agents are not allowed to show up at your home uninvited to sell a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan. If someone does, that alone is a red flag.
• The "free" genetic test or brace offer. A stranger offers a free knee brace, DNA test, or COVID test kit in exchange for your Medicare number. The equipment is often unnecessary, and Medicare gets billed thousands.
• The fake refund. A texter or emailer says you're owed a Medicare refund and just needs your bank details to send it. Medicare doesn't issue refunds this way.

Simple habits that stop most fraud

You don't need to be a fraud expert to protect yourself. A few plain rules stop the vast majority of attempts:

• Treat your Medicare number like a credit card. Only share it with your doctor, pharmacist, or an agent you sought out yourself.
• Hang up on anyone who pressures you to decide today. Real enrollment decisions can wait a day, a week, or until you talk to family.
• Ignore callers who already "know" your Medicare number and just want you to confirm it — that's a classic phishing move.
• Check every Medicare Summary Notice or Explanation of Benefits for services or equipment you didn't receive. Early catches make fraud easier to reverse.
• Write down the date, phone number, and details of any suspicious contact before you report it.

What real Medicare help looks like in North Texas

Dallas is in Dallas County, where beneficiaries have a wide range of Medicare Advantage and stand-alone Part D options during AEP. That's a lot to sort through, which is exactly why scammers target the area — but it also means free, unbiased help is available.

• Medicare.gov lets you compare every plan available in your ZIP code, with no sales pressure.
• 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) is staffed 24/7 for questions about coverage, billing, and suspicious activity.
• The Texas Health Information, Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) — the state's SHIP — offers free one-on-one counseling from trained volunteers, in person and by phone.
• The Texas Senior Medicare Patrol at 1-888-341-6187 takes fraud reports and helps beneficiaries understand what they're seeing.

None of these resources will ever ask you to pay for help or steer you toward a specific plan.

Program facts worth knowing before you talk to anyone

Knowing a few numbers makes it easier to tell a real conversation from a con:

• The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026.
• The Part D deductible cannot exceed $615.
• The coverage gap ("donut hole") was eliminated in 2025 — Part D now has three phases.
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs across the calendar year in monthly installments, at no extra charge.
• IRMAA surcharges on Part B and Part D start above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.
• Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment (for people already in a MA plan) runs January 1 – March 31.

If a caller quotes numbers that don't match these, that's your cue to hang up and verify.