Medicare Part D
Aurora Medicare Alert: Guard Your Number for 2027
AURORA, Colo. — As Aurora seniors sort through mail, phone calls, and TV ads ahead of the December 7 Medicare Annual Enrollment Period deadline, scammers are working overtime too. The Colorado Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) says fraudsters often ramp up activity during enrollment season, hoping a rushed decision will hand them your Medicare number.
Compare Medicare options near you
Answer 3 quick questions to see Medicare Advantage, Medigap, and Part D listings from licensed insurance partners.
What’s your ZIP code?
Plan availability is set by your county, so we start here.
How old are you?
This helps match you with options you’re eligible for.
Do you have Medicare Parts A & B?
Most Medicare Advantage and Medigap options require both.
These listings are provided by licensed insurance partners.
Will your prescriptions still be covered in 2027?
Part D plans rewrite their drug lists every year — tiers move, pharmacies change, drugs drop off. One call checks your exact medications against the 2027 plans in your area.
- Every prescription checked, name by name
- Your pharmacy checked for preferred pricing
Available now — current wait: 0 min
A real person answers. No phone menu, ever.
Want to see more plan options?
Answer a few more questions to continue to additional options from licensed partners.
Continue →Advertising disclosure: MyMedicarePlans.org may be compensated when you contact a partner or licensed agent. Listings are not ranked or endorsed by us, and we do not recommend specific plans. You can also contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.
Speak to a Licensed Insurance Agent
Click to call 855-729-3240
Key takeaways
- The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period runs through December 7, and scammers often ramp up activity during this rushed decision-making window.
- Your Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) should be treated like a credit card and shared only with trusted providers like your doctor, pharmacist, insurer, or 1-800-MEDICARE.
- Protect yourself by never confirming your number to unsolicited callers, shredding paperwork showing your MBI, and checking your Medicare Summary Notice or MyMedicare.gov account regularly for unfamiliar services.
- If a caller says you must "reactivate" your card due to 2027 changes, that's a scam, and Medicare can issue a new MBI without any loss of coverage if yours is compromised.
Here's a plain-language guide to protecting that number — and what to do if you slip up.
Why your Medicare number matters
Your Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) is the key to your health benefits. If a criminal gets it, they can bill Medicare for services you never received, order equipment in your name, or use it to open the door to other identity theft.
CMS replaced Social Security-based numbers with MBIs in 2019 specifically to reduce this risk, but the number is still valuable. Treat it like a credit card: share it only with people you trust and have reason to give it to — your doctor, your pharmacist, your insurer, or 1-800-MEDICARE.
The scams making the rounds
According to Medicare.gov and SMP alerts, common tactics include:
- Fake "new card" calls. Someone claims Medicare is sending a new plastic or chip card and needs to "verify" your number. Medicare will not call you out of the blue to ask for it.
- Free brace, cream, or DNA test offers. A caller or booth at a health fair offers a "free" item if you provide your Medicare number. Medicare later gets billed hundreds or thousands of dollars.
- Door-to-door plan sales. Licensed agents are not allowed to show up uninvited to pitch a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan.
- Phony government texts and emails. Medicare communicates mostly by mail. Don't click links in unexpected texts.
If something feels rushed or too good to be true, hang up. You lose nothing by ending the call.
Simple habits that keep you safe
1. Keep your card in a safe place. Carry it only when you need it for a new appointment. 2. Check your Medicare Summary Notice or your MyMedicare.gov account every few months for services you don't recognize. 3. Never confirm your number to anyone who calls you first. 4. Shred paperwork that shows your MBI before tossing it. 5. Talk to a trusted family member before signing anything during Annual Enrollment (Oct. 15 – Dec. 7) or the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (Jan. 1 – March 31).
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.
By the numbers
How people get Medicare in Arapahoe County
(MA penetration in Arapahoe County)
MA penetration from CMS enrollment data; Medigap share is an estimate. U.S. average is about 54% Medicare Advantage. These are area-level figures, not plan-specific.
What's actually changing in 2027 — so you can spot lies
Scammers often twist real news. Here are the facts, straight from Medicare:
- The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 for 2026.
- The Part D maximum deductible is $615 in 2026 ($700 in 2027).
- The coverage gap ("donut hole") is gone as of 2025; there are now three payment phases.
- The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs across the year — it's free to opt into and no one should charge you a "sign-up fee."
- IRMAA (higher-income premium surcharges) starts above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.
If a caller claims you must "reactivate" your card because of these changes, that's a scam.
A note on plans available in Aurora
Aurora is in Arapahoe County, where Medicare beneficiaries can choose from Original Medicare plus a stand-alone Part D drug plan, or a Medicare Advantage plan that bundles coverage. County-level plan counts change each year, and the official comparison tool at Medicare.gov's Plan Finder is the only place to see the current, personalized list. A legitimate agent will always let you use that tool yourself — no pressure, no same-day signatures.
If you think your number has been stolen
- Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
- Contact the Colorado Senior Medicare Patrol at 1-800-503-5190 for free, confidential help investigating suspicious charges.
- Report identity theft to the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov.
- Review your Medicare Summary Notices carefully for the next several months.
Medicare can issue a new MBI if yours has been compromised — you won't lose your coverage.
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: Will Medicare ever call me to ask for my number?
Q: My pharmacy asked for my Medicare number. Is that okay?
Q: I gave my number to someone I now think was a scammer. What now?
- CMS — Medicare Part D program rules (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.