Medicare Part D
Medicare Card Fraud in Topeka: Scams to Watch For
TOPEKA, Kan. — Your red, white, and blue Medicare card is a small piece of paper with a very big job. It unlocks your health benefits — and, if it falls into the wrong hands, it can also unlock a fraud scheme that costs Medicare (and you) real money.
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Speak to a Licensed Insurance Agent
Click to call 855-729-3240Key takeaways
- Guarding a Medicare Number is important because Medicare will never call out of the blue to ask for it, and a hang-up is the right response if someone does.
- Reading a Medicare Summary Notice or checking claims at Medicare.gov helps catch fake billing for services never received, and any suspicious charge should be reported.
- Plan availability for Medicare Advantage and Part D plans is set at the county level by CMS each year, so results should be checked using the Plan Finder at Medicare.gov with a specific ZIP code.
- Simple habits like keeping the Medicare card at home unless needed, avoiding posting card photos online, and asking a SHICK counselor before signing anything can help avoid scams tied to 2027 changes.
A Topeka Reminder: Your Medicare Number Is as Valuable as Cash
As Topeka residents get ready for the 2027 plan year, the Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) and Medicare.gov are urging beneficiaries to treat their Medicare Number like a credit card number: share it only with people you trust, and check your statements the same way you'd check a bank account.
Here's what to guard, what to watch for, and where to turn if something feels off.
What Your Medicare Number Can Do in the Wrong Hands
A stolen Medicare Number can be used to bill Medicare for services you never received — everything from fake medical equipment to bogus genetic tests to phantom doctor visits. That fraud drives up costs for the whole program. It can also mess up your own medical record, since false claims may show up in your history.
Medicare will never call you out of the blue to ask for your Medicare Number, Social Security number, or bank information. If someone does, that's your cue to hang up.
Common Scams Hitting Kansas Seniors
The Kansas Senior Medicare Patrol regularly warns about a few patterns. Recognize them and you're halfway to shutting them down:
- "Free" braces, creams, or genetic test kits. A stranger calls or sets up a booth offering something at no cost — they just need your Medicare Number. Medicare gets billed anyway, often for thousands.
- Fake Medicare "agents" who claim they're updating your card or verifying your account. There is no new card coming. The plastic card scam has been around for years.
- Enrollment pressure calls during the Annual Enrollment Period (Oct. 15 – Dec. 7) or the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (Jan. 1 – March 31). Legitimate help does not require you to give personal details to a cold caller.
- Door-to-door visits. Marketing agents are not allowed to show up at your home uninvited.
Simple Habits That Protect You
You don't need to be tech-savvy to stay safe. A few plain habits go a long way:
1. Carry your card only when you need it. Otherwise, keep it somewhere secure at home. 2. Read your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) or check your claims at Medicare.gov. If you see a service you didn't receive, report it. 3. Guard your number like your Social Security number. Don't post pictures of your card online, even partially covered. 4. Ignore unsolicited calls, texts, and emails claiming to be from Medicare. 5. Ask for help before you sign anything. If you're not sure, call your Kansas SHICK counselor (the local State Health Insurance Assistance Program).
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 Shawnee County
(MA penetration in Shawnee 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 Changing for 2027 — and Why Scammers Love Change
Any time Medicare changes, scammers use the news as bait. Here's what's actually true for 2027, so you can spot the fake pitches:
- Part D will have an annual out-of-pocket cap on covered prescription drugs of $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027.
- The Part D maximum deductible is $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027.
- The old coverage gap ("donut hole") was eliminated in 2025; Part D now has three phases, not four.
- The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread your drug costs across the year in monthly amounts, at no extra charge. Enrollment is optional and goes through your Part D plan — not through a stranger on the phone.
- IRMAA (the higher-income surcharge for Parts B and D) starts above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.
If someone calls claiming you owe a "new Medicare fee" tied to these changes, that's a scam. None of these updates require you to hand over your Medicare Number to a caller.
Local Context: Topeka and Shawnee County
Topeka is in Shawnee County, where plan availability — the number of Medicare Advantage and Part D plans offered — is set at the county level by CMS each year. That means two neighbors on the same street have access to the same slate of plans, but a friend in a nearby county may see something different. When you compare options, use the Plan Finder at Medicare.gov and enter your ZIP code so the results match Shawnee County's actual offerings.
Star Ratings, published by CMS, can help you understand how plans are measured on quality and customer service. They're a research tool — not a sales pitch — and no one at Medicare will call to tell you which plan to pick.
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: I gave my Medicare Number to someone on the phone. Now what?
Q: Can Medicare replace my number if it's stolen?
Q: Is it safe to talk to a licensed agent about my coverage?
- CMS — Medicare Part D program rules (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.