Medicare Advantage

Nashville: Guard Your Medicare Card, Spot Fraud in 2027

Davidson County has 69 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027. Compared with 2026, 14 plans are not coming back, 9 are new, and 30 continuing plans changed in some way you should check before December 7, 9 of them under a new name. This guide covers what those numbers mean for Nashville, not which plan to pick.

NASHVILLE — Your red, white, and blue Medicare card looks simple. But the number on it is one of the most valuable pieces of personal information you own. Thieves who get hold of it can bill Medicare for services you never received, drain benefits you may need later, and put your medical records in a tangle that takes months to sort out.

Nashville seniors, your Medicare number is worth guarding

The good news: a few plain habits go a long way. Here's what Nashville readers should know as we head into 2027.

Treat your Medicare number like a credit card

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) put it plainly: guard your Medicare Number the same way you guard your Social Security number and bank information.

That means:

• Don't carry your card everywhere. Carry it to appointments where you'll need it, and keep it in a safe place at home the rest of the time.
• Don't share your number over the phone with anyone who calls you out of the blue — even if they say they're from Medicare.
• Don't post photos of your card on social media, and don't let anyone take a picture of it "for their records" unless you know exactly who they are.

Medicare will not call, text, or come to your door asking for your number. If someone does, hang up.

Common scams to watch for

Fraud tactics shift, but the goals rarely change: get your Medicare number, get your money, or both. Common approaches include:

• "Free" braces, genetic tests, or medical equipment. A caller offers you a free knee brace, DNA cancer screening, or diabetic supplies — they just need your Medicare number to "process" it.
• Fake Medicare "agents." Someone claims your card is being replaced, upgraded, or reactivated. Real cards are not "reactivated," and CMS does not charge you to send a new one.
• Threats about losing coverage. A high-pressure caller says you'll lose benefits if you don't confirm your number today. That's a red flag, not a real Medicare policy.
• Door-to-door sales pitches. Agents are not allowed to show up uninvited to sell you a Medicare plan.

If you're not sure whether a call, letter, or visit is legitimate, hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) yourself.

Read your Medicare Summary Notice — it's your fraud radar

Every three months, Original Medicare mails a Medicare Summary Notice (MSN). If you're in a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, you'll get an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) from your plan.

Look at them. Check for:

• Services or equipment you don't recognize.
• Duplicate charges for the same visit.
• A provider you've never seen.
• Dates when you weren't at the doctor.

If something looks off, call the provider first — mistakes happen. If it still doesn't add up, report it to the Senior Medicare Patrol.

Where Nashville residents can get real help

Nashville is in Davidson County, and county-level resources are the best starting point for one-on-one help. Two are especially useful:

• Tennessee SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program): free, unbiased counseling on Medicare questions, enrollment, and appeals. SHIP counselors do not sell insurance.
• Tennessee Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP): trained volunteers and staff who help you spot, report, and recover from Medicare fraud, errors, and abuse.

You can also reach 1-800-MEDICARE 24 hours a day, or visit Medicare.gov to check claims, order a replacement card, or manage your account through your secure MyMedicare.gov login.

A quick word on 2027 changes worth knowing

Fraudsters often use real Medicare news to sound convincing. Knowing the facts helps you push back:

• Part D has a $2,400 out-of-pocket cap in 2027. That's a real, program-wide change — no one needs your Medicare number to "activate" it for you.
• The Part D deductible is capped at $700 for 2027, though plans may set it lower.
• The coverage gap (donut hole) was eliminated in 2025. Part D now has three phases.
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread your drug costs across the year in monthly amounts. It's optional and free to sign up through your plan — no third party needs to enroll you.
• IRMAA surcharges (higher Part B and Part D premiums for higher-income enrollees) begin above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.
• Enrollment windows: Annual Enrollment runs Oct. 15 – Dec. 7, and Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment runs Jan. 1 – March 31.

If a caller pressures you outside those windows or promises you a benefit "only if you act today," that's a warning sign.