Medicare Part D
Fairbanks Medicare Fraud Alerts: Dodge Dec. 7 Scams
FAIRBANKS, Alaska — With the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period running through December 7, phones are ringing across Interior Alaska with pitches that sound urgent, official, and sometimes too good to be true. Some are legitimate. Many are not.
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Key takeaways
- Medicare will only reach you by mail, so hang up on any surprise call, text, or email asking you to "verify" or "activate" your number or card.
- Scammers use real 2027 changes—like the Part D out-of-pocket cap rising to $2,400 and the Part D maximum deductible of $700—as bait to sound official, even though the caller is not actually from Medicare.
- Licensed agents in Alaska cannot show up uninvited at your door, and offering gifts, meals, or gift cards to get you to enroll breaks federal marketing rules.
- Real IRMAA notices for higher-income beneficiaries come from Social Security by mail, not from callers demanding "income verification."
The Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) reports that fraud attempts spike every fall, and this year brings a familiar hook: real program changes that scammers can twist. In 2027, the Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,400 (up from $2,100 in 2026) and the Part D maximum deductible is $700 (up from $615 in 2026). Those are true program facts — but they're also bait criminals use to sound credible. Here's how to tell the difference in Fairbanks.
The pitch that should always make you hang up
Medicare will not call you out of the blue. It will not text, email, or knock on your door to "verify" your number, "activate" a new card, or sign you up for a plan. Anyone who does is either a scammer or an agent breaking CMS rules.
Red flags to listen for:
- "Your Medicare card is being replaced — we just need to confirm your number."
- "You qualify for extra benefits, but only if you act today."
- "Press 1 to speak with a Medicare representative about your new 2027 benefits."
- Anyone asking for your Social Security number, bank account, or a credit card to "enroll" you.
Real Medicare communication comes by mail. Your card is free. Your number never expires.
Why Fairbanks is a target
Fairbanks sits in the Fairbanks North Star Borough, where enrollees have a meaningful set of Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and Part D options to sort through each fall. That complexity — plus long winters, distance from family, and a mix of new retirees and longtime Alaskans — is exactly what fraudsters look for.
Scammers also know rural and semi-rural areas often have fewer in-person help sessions, so people are more likely to answer the phone or click an email link out of confusion.
Four scams making the rounds this season
1. The "new 2027 benefits" call. Callers reference real changes — the $2,400 Part D cap in 2027, the eliminated coverage gap, the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan that lets you spread drug costs across the year — then pressure you to "re-enroll" or share personal information. The changes are real. The caller is not from Medicare.
2. Fake "Medicare advisors" at the door. Licensed agents in Alaska are not allowed to show up uninvited. If someone knocks claiming to represent Medicare or a plan you didn't ask about, you can close the door. It's not rude — it's the rule.
3. IRMAA and "income verification" scams. Higher-income beneficiaries (above $109,000 for a single filer in 2026) pay an Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount. Scammers use this to demand "verification" of tax info. Real IRMAA notices come from Social Security, by mail.
4. Free gifts, meals, or gift cards for signing up. Offering anything of value to steer an enrollment is a violation of federal marketing rules. If it's dangled in front of you, walk away.
How to decide who to actually trust
Before you share a single digit of your Medicare number this fall, ask three questions:
- Did I contact them, or did they contact me? Unsolicited contact is the single biggest warning sign.
- Are they trying to rush me? AEP runs a full eight weeks (Oct. 15–Dec. 7), and Medicare Advantage members get another window Jan. 1–March 31. There is time to think.
- Will they put it in writing? Legitimate agents will send plan documents you can read before enrolling. Scammers won't.
It's also fair to ask an agent for their National Producer Number and which carriers they're contracted with. Honest agents answer without hesitation.
What to do if something feels off
- Hang up or stop responding. You don't owe a caller an explanation.
- Check your Medicare Summary Notice or MyMedicare.gov account for charges you don't recognize. Fraud often shows up as billing for services, equipment, or tests you never received.
- Call Alaska's SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) for free, unbiased help. Alaska's SHIP is run through the Division of Senior and Disabilities Services and serves Fairbanks residents by phone and in person.
- Report suspected fraud to the Senior Medicare Patrol or to 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). Reports help stop the next call before it reaches your neighbor.
By the numbers
Medicare Part B premium, 2006–2026
The standard monthly Part B premium has climbed from $88.50 in 2006 to $202.90 in 2026. Hover any point for that year’s premium.
Source: CMS. Standard premium shown; in some hold-harmless years many existing enrollees paid less. Confirm at Medicare.gov.
Try it
How the 2026 Part D drug cap works
Slide to your estimated yearly prescription costs and see how the new $2,100 out-of-pocket cap protects you. This illustrates the standard Part D benefit; your plan may structure costs differently.
Once your out-of-pocket spending on covered drugs reaches $2,100, you pay nothing more for the rest of 2026. Confirm details at Medicare.gov.
Explore
When can you enroll? An interactive year
Enrollment windows are federal and the same nationwide. Confirm your personal dates at Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Q: Someone called saying my Medicare card is being replaced with a new 2027 version. Is that real?
Q: I gave my Medicare number to a caller before I realized it might be a scam. What now?
Q: Is it legal for an agent to come to my Fairbanks home during AEP?
- CMS — Medicare Part D program rules (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.