Medicare 2026

What Lufkin Seniors Can Do During Medicare AEP

LUFKIN, Texas — Enrollment season is prime time for Medicare fraud, and the calls, texts and door knocks are already picking up across East Texas. With the Annual Enrollment Period running October 15 through December 7, scammers know seniors are thinking about their coverage — and they use that window to pressure people into sharing personal information or switching plans they never wanted.

Here's what Lufkin-area residents should watch for this fall, and how to shut a scam down before it costs you.

Why scams spike right now

Fraudsters follow the calendar. Between mid-October and early December, TV ads, mailers and legitimate agent calls flood in — and criminals hide inside that noise. They may claim to be from "Medicare," a "new benefits program," or even a well-known insurance carrier. The goal is usually the same: get your Medicare number, your bank information, or a signature that switches your plan without your full understanding.

The 2027 plan year also brings real changes — the Part D out-of-pocket cap moves to $2,400 in 2027 (up from $2,100 in 2026), and the Part D maximum deductible is $700 in 2027 — and scammers use those headlines as bait. If someone calls saying you need to "re-verify" your card because of new 2027 rules, that's a red flag.

The most common Medicare scams this season

The "new card" call. Someone claims Medicare is issuing updated cards for 2027 and needs to confirm your number. Medicare is not issuing new cards, and it would never ask this way.

Fake benefit offers. Callers promise extra money for groceries, rent, or gas if you "verify" your Medicare ID. Real extra benefits, when they exist inside a plan, are never handed out over a cold call.

Door-to-door agents. Licensed agents are not allowed to show up at your home uninvited to sell Medicare Advantage or Part D plans. If someone does, do not let them in.

Pressure to switch plans. A caller says your current plan is being canceled and you must enroll today or lose coverage. Real changes to your plan are mailed to you in an Annual Notice of Change each fall — you have time to review and ask questions.

Free medical equipment or genetic testing. You're offered a "free" back brace, DNA test kit, or diabetic supplies in exchange for your Medicare number. Medicare gets billed, you may get stuck with charges, and your identity is exposed.

How to protect yourself

• Guard your Medicare number like a credit card. Only share it with your doctor, pharmacist, or a trusted provider you contacted first.
• Hang up on pressure. Real Medicare help does not use countdown timers or threats.
• Never pay by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency. No legitimate Medicare-related bill is ever collected that way.
• Check your Medicare Summary Notice or your online account at Medicare.gov for charges you don't recognize.
• Write down details — the caller's name, number, and what they said — before you report it.

What to do if you think you were targeted

If you gave out information or you're just not sure, act quickly. Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to report the contact and check your account for suspicious activity. You can also reach the Texas Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) at 1-888-341-6187 — SMP counselors are trained specifically to help spot, stop, and report Medicare fraud, and their help is free.

For unbiased, one-on-one help understanding your own coverage during AEP, Lufkin residents can contact Texas's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), known here as HICAP, at 1-800-252-9240. Lufkin is in Angelina County, and county-level plan choices — including how many Medicare Advantage and Part D plans are available — can be reviewed at Medicare.gov's Plan Finder.