Medicare Part D
Protect Your Medicare Number: 6 Simple Steps to Avoid Fraud
AURORA, Ill. — Your Medicare number is like a key to your health coverage. In the wrong hands, it can be used to bill Medicare for services you never got, drain benefits you may need later, and clutter your medical record with false information. The good news? A few simple habits can keep that key safe.
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Key takeaways
- No one from Medicare will ever call, text, email, or knock on your door asking for your Medicare number, so treat any such request as a red flag.
- Scam calls, texts, and door-knockers tend to increase during the Annual Enrollment Period (Oct. 15 – Dec. 7) and again during Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment (Jan. 1 – March 31).
- Reviewing your Medicare Summary Notice (mailed every three months) or your plan's Explanation of Benefits, or checking claims at MyMedicare.gov within about 24 hours, is one of the best ways to catch fraud early.
- If you think your Medicare number was stolen, you can call 1-800-MEDICARE, contact the Illinois SMP, report it to the HHS Office of Inspector General, and keep notes on any suspicious contact.
Here's what Aurora residents should know as scam calls, texts, and door-knockers pick up ahead of the Annual Enrollment Period (Oct. 15 – Dec. 7).
Treat Your Medicare Number Like a Credit Card
Your Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) — the 11-character number on your red, white, and blue card — should be shared only with people you trust to give you medical care. That includes your doctor, your pharmacist, your hospital, and insurers you've chosen to work with.
According to Medicare.gov, no one from Medicare will call, text, email, or knock on your door asking for your number. If someone does, that's a red flag, not a routine request.
Know the Common Aurora-Area Scams
Fraud tactics change, but a few show up again and again:
- "We need to send you a new card." Medicare is not issuing new cards, plastic cards, chip cards, or "2027 update" cards. Anyone saying so is lying.
- Free braces, creams, or DNA test kits. Scammers offer a "free" item, then ask for your Medicare number to "process" it. They bill Medicare for expensive equipment you didn't need.
- Fake plan agents. Real licensed agents follow strict CMS rules. They cannot show up uninvited, pressure you, or ask for your number before you agree to anything.
- "Your benefits will be canceled." Medicare doesn't cancel coverage over the phone. Hang up.
The Illinois Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) tracks these scams and can help you report them.
Check Your Medicare Summary Notice — Every Time
One of the strongest fraud defenses is simply reading your statements. Every three months, Original Medicare mails a Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) listing services billed in your name. If you're in a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, you'll get an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) from your plan instead.
Look for:
- Services or equipment you never received
- Duplicate charges
- A provider's name you don't recognize
- Dates you weren't at that office
You can also create a free account at MyMedicare.gov to see claims within about 24 hours of processing.
What to Do If You Think Your Number Was Stolen
Don't panic — and don't stay silent. Take these steps:
1. Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). They can flag your account and investigate suspicious claims. 2. Contact the Illinois SMP at 1-800-548-9034 for one-on-one help reviewing charges. 3. Report the scam to the HHS Office of Inspector General at 1-800-HHS-TIPS or oig.hhs.gov. 4. Keep notes. Write down who called, when, and what they asked for.
Medicare can, in some cases, issue a new MBI if yours has been compromised.
Be Careful During Enrollment Season
Between Oct. 15 and Dec. 7, and again during Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment (Jan. 1 – March 31), scam activity spikes because seniors expect to hear about coverage. Real information about your options is available at Medicare.gov's Plan Finder or through an unbiased counselor — you don't have to trust a cold caller to make a decision.
Aurora is in Kane County, where multiple stand-alone Part D plans and Medicare Advantage plans are offered each year. Availability is set at the county level, so a neighbor a few miles away in DuPage or Kendall County may see a different list.
A Few 2027 Facts Worth Knowing (So Scammers Can't Fool You)
Scammers often invent "new Medicare changes" to scare people. Here's what's actually true for 2027:
- Part D out-of-pocket spending is capped at $2,100 in 2026 ($2,400 in 2027) for the year.
- The Part D deductible can be no more than $615 in 2026 ($700 in 2027).
- The old "donut hole" coverage gap was eliminated in 2025; Part D now has three phases.
- The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs across the year in monthly payments — it's optional and free to join.
- IRMAA income-based surcharges start above $109,000 for a single filer in 2026.
If a caller tells you something that contradicts these facts, it's not Medicare on the line.
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 Kane County
(MA penetration in Kane 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.
Prescription coverage
How Medicare Part D works in 2027
The old coverage gap (“donut hole”) is eliminated as of 2025 (three phases now). The yearly cap on what you pay out of pocket for covered drugs is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027, and you can spread those costs across the year with the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan.
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 upgraded to a new plastic or chip card. Is that real?
Q: My doctor's office asked for my Medicare number over the phone. Should I give it?
Q: I already gave my number to someone who now seems suspicious. What do I do?
- CMS — Medicare Part D program rules (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.