Medicare Part D
Bear, DE: Guard Your Medicare Number Before Dec. 7
BEAR, Del. — As the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period runs from October 15 through December 7, scammers are working overtime. They know millions of people are reviewing plans, answering calls, and opening mail — and they're counting on a moment of distraction to get what they really want: your Medicare number.
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Click to call 855-729-3240Key takeaways
- The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period runs from October 15 through December 7, and scammers use this busy time to try to steal Medicare numbers.
- Never give your Medicare number to anyone who calls, texts, emails, or shows up uninvited, since Medicare will not call to "verify" your number.
- Check your quarterly Medicare Summary Notice or Explanation of Benefits and report any unfamiliar services, since you can also review claims anytime at Medicare.gov.
- If you suspect fraud, call 1-800-MEDICARE or the Senior Medicare Patrol at 1-877-808-2468, and free, unbiased plan help is available through your local SHIP counseling program.
Bear residents, your Medicare number is a target this fall
Your Medicare Beneficiary Identifier is as sensitive as a Social Security number. Once a criminal has it, they can bill Medicare for services you never received, which can jam up your records and, in some cases, delay real care you need later.
The good news: a few simple habits protect you almost completely.
Treat your Medicare card like a credit card
Carry it only when you truly need it — for a new doctor visit, a pharmacy trip, or a hospital stay. Otherwise, keep it at home in a safe spot.
Never give your Medicare number to someone who calls, texts, emails, or shows up at your door uninvited. Medicare will not call you to "verify" your number, and no legitimate plan needs it to send you a brochure. If someone pressures you, hang up. That pressure is the tell.
Know the common scams making the rounds
The Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) and Medicare.gov flag a handful of scams that keep resurfacing:
- "Free" braces, genetic tests, or COVID kits in exchange for your Medicare number.
- Fake "new card" calls claiming Medicare is issuing plastic or chip cards. It isn't.
- Door-to-door "agents" — federal rules prohibit uninvited in-person sales visits.
- Robocalls warning your benefits will be canceled unless you "confirm" your information.
- Phony help lines that mimic 1-800-MEDICARE in online search ads.
If an offer sounds urgent, free, or too good, slow down. That pause is your best defense.
Read every Medicare Summary Notice
Every three months, Original Medicare mails a Medicare Summary Notice (MSN). Medicare Advantage members get an Explanation of Benefits from their plan. Both list the services billed in your name.
Open them. Compare the dates, doctors, and services to what you actually received. Even a single unfamiliar line — a test you didn't take, a visit that never happened — is worth reporting. You can also check claims anytime by logging into your account at Medicare.gov.
What Bear residents should know about local choices
Bear is in New Castle County, where Medicare beneficiaries can choose between Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage plans, and stand-alone Part D drug plans offered by private insurers. Plan availability, networks, and formularies are set at the county level and can change each year, which is exactly why AEP exists.
If you want a neutral, no-sales-pressure walk-through of what's offered in New Castle County, Delaware's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), called ELDERinfo, provides free one-on-one counseling.
Key 2027 numbers worth memorizing
Knowing the real figures makes it easier to spot a lie:
- Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Once you hit it, you pay nothing for covered drugs the rest of the year.
- Part D maximum deductible: $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027.
- Coverage gap ("donut hole"): eliminated as of 2025. Part D now has three phases, not four.
- Medicare Prescription Payment Plan: an optional program that spreads your drug costs across monthly payments instead of paying at the pharmacy counter.
- IRMAA surcharges: begin above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.
- Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: January 1 – March 31, for people already in a Medicare Advantage plan.
If a caller quotes numbers that don't match these, that's a red flag.
If you think your number was compromised
Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) right away and report suspected fraud to the Senior Medicare Patrol at 1-877-808-2468 or smpresource.org. Delaware's SMP works alongside ELDERinfo to help you review your records and, if needed, request a new Medicare number.
Reporting matters even if you didn't lose money — it helps investigators shut down scams targeting your neighbors.
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 New Castle County
(MA penetration in New Castle 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.
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
Will Medicare ever call me to ask for my number?
I already gave my number to someone I now think was a scammer. What do I do?
Are door-to-door Medicare sales visits allowed in Bear?
- CMS — Medicare Part D program rules (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.