Medicare 2026

Rawlins Seniors: Protect Your Medicare Number Like Cash

RAWLINS, Wyo. — That red, white, and blue Medicare card in your wallet is a key. It unlocks your health benefits — and, in the wrong hands, it can unlock thousands of dollars in fraudulent billing charged to your name. Here in Rawlins, where neighbors tend to trust neighbors, that friendly instinct is exactly what scammers count on.

Your Medicare card is more valuable than you think

Guarding your Medicare number is one of the simplest, most powerful things you can do for your health coverage heading into 2027. Here's what to watch for and how to respond.

Why your Medicare number matters so much

Your Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) — the 11-character code on your card — is tied directly to your medical records and your billing history. When a criminal gets that number, they can bill Medicare for services or equipment you never received. That can:

• Drain Medicare funds meant for real care.
• Clutter your medical record with services you didn't get, which can affect future care.
• Cause you to hit coverage limits or trigger denials for equipment you actually need later.

Medicare will not call, text, email, or knock on your door to ask for your number. If someone does, that's your signal something is wrong.

Common scams to know about

The Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) tracks fraud trends nationwide. Some of the ones showing up most often:

• "Free" medical equipment offers. Braces, genetic test kits, catheters, or continuous glucose monitors offered by phone or at a booth — in exchange for your Medicare number.
• Fake plan salespeople. Someone claiming to be from Medicare offering a "better plan" if you confirm your number. Medicare itself does not sell plans.
• New card scams. Callers saying you need a new plastic or "chip" card and asking you to verify your identity. Medicare hasn't issued a chip card.
• Hospice or home health sign-ups you didn't ask for, sometimes tied to a small gift card.
• Phishing texts and emails with links about "benefits updates" or "Part D changes."

With the Part D out-of-pocket cap dropping to $2,100 in 2026 and the optional Medicare Prescription Payment Plan rolling out more broadly, expect scammers to invent stories around these real changes. Legitimate information about them is on Medicare.gov — not in a random text.

Simple habits that protect you

You don't need to be a tech expert to stay safe. A few steady habits go a long way:

1. Treat your Medicare number like your Social Security number. Don't share it over the phone unless you placed the call to a trusted number. 2. Only give it to people you know provide your care — your doctor, pharmacist, hospital, or your actual insurance plan. 3. Check your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) or your online account at Medicare.gov every few months. Look for services, dates, or providers you don't recognize. 4. Keep a simple "care calendar." Jot down doctor visits, tests, and equipment deliveries. It makes spotting a fake claim easier. 5. Shred anything with your Medicare number before throwing it away. 6. Hang up on pressure. Real Medicare business is never urgent in that "act right now" way.

What to do if you think your number is exposed

If you shared your MBI with someone suspicious, or you see a charge you don't recognize, you have real options — and you won't get in trouble for asking.

• Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to report suspected fraud and, if needed, request a new Medicare number.
• Contact Wyoming Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) for free, one-on-one help reviewing suspicious claims.
• Reach the Wyoming State Health Insurance Information Program (WSHIIP) — the state's SHIP — for unbiased Medicare counseling.
• Report identity theft at IdentityTheft.gov.

A quick local note on plan choices

Rawlins is in Carbon County, where Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and stand-alone Part D plans are all available through the annual enrollment windows. Two dates worth circling on your kitchen calendar:

• Oct. 15 – Dec. 7: Medicare Annual Enrollment Period.
• Jan. 1 – March 31: Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period.

During these windows, fraudulent "agents" get bolder. If someone comes to your door uninvited to sell a plan, that's against Medicare's marketing rules — you can report it.