Medicare Part D

Guard Your Medicare Number: Fraud Tips for 2026

STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. — Your Medicare number is one of the most valuable pieces of information you own. In the wrong hands, it can be used to bill Medicare for services you never received, drain benefits you may need later, and tangle your medical records. As we move into 2027, scammers are getting more creative — but the steps to protect yourself are still simple.

Here's what Sterling Heights residents should know right now.

Treat your Medicare card like a credit card

Your Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (the number on your red, white, and blue card) is a lifetime ID. According to Medicare.gov and the Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP), you should:

• Carry your card only when you need it — for a doctor visit, pharmacy, or new provider.
• Never give the number out over the phone unless you started the call to a trusted office.
• Never post a photo of your card on social media, even a partial one.
• Shred old statements and paperwork that show the number.

Medicare will never call, text, or email you out of the blue asking for your number, your bank account, or a payment to "activate" a card or benefit.

Know the scams making the rounds

Fraud patterns shift every year. Recent ones flagged by SMP and the Federal Trade Commission include:

• Free brace, cream, or genetic test offers — a stranger calls or sets up a booth offering something "at no cost to you" if you'll just share your Medicare number.
• Fake "new 2027 card" calls — there is no new plastic or chip card being mailed. If someone says one is coming and they need to "verify" your info, hang up.
• Bogus Part D or Advantage calls during Open Enrollment — high-pressure callers who won't say what company they're with, or who ask for payment on the phone.
• Phishing texts claiming your Medicare account is "suspended."

If something feels off, it probably is. It's always okay to hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) yourself.

Read your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) or claims

One of the best ways to catch fraud early is to actually look at what's being billed in your name. Every three months, Original Medicare mails an MSN. Medicare Advantage members get an Explanation of Benefits from their plan. You can also check claims anytime at MyMedicare.gov.

Look for:

• Services or equipment you never received.
• Duplicate charges on the same day.
• A provider's name you don't recognize.

Report anything odd. Even small errors are worth flagging.

What's new for 2027 that scammers may exploit

Several real Medicare changes are landing in 2027, and fraudsters love to twist real news into a hook. Keep these facts straight:

• The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. No one can charge you a fee to "unlock" it — it applies automatically.
• The Part D deductible maximum is $615 for 2026 and $700 for 2027.
• The coverage gap ("donut hole") was eliminated in 2025; drug coverage now has three phases.
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs across the calendar year in monthly payments. Signing up is free through your Part D plan — never pay a third party to enroll you.
• IRMAA (higher Part B and D premiums for higher earners) begins above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.

If a caller references any of these to pressure you into sharing your number, that alone is a red flag.

Sterling Heights: where to get real help locally

Sterling Heights is in Macomb County, where beneficiaries had a wide range of Medicare Advantage and Part D options available for 2026. The 2027 lineup is detailed in each plan's Annual Notice of Change and on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder. Because plan choices and rules can vary at the county level, personalized help matters.

Free, unbiased help is available from:

• Michigan MMAP (the state's SHIP program): 1-800-803-7174. Counselors help with plan comparison, appeals, and fraud reporting at no cost.
• Michigan Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP): 1-800-803-7174. Specifically trained to investigate suspected Medicare fraud, errors, and abuse.
• Medicare.gov and 1-800-MEDICARE for official answers 24/7.

None of these will ever ask you to pay for their help.

Key dates to keep on your calendar

• Annual Enrollment Period: October 15 – December 7. This is when most plan changes for the following year are made.
• Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: January 1 – March 31. If you're already in an Advantage plan, you get one chance to switch or return to Original Medicare.

Scammers often pose as "enrollment specialists" around these windows. Real help doesn't require your Social Security number, bank account, or an on-the-spot decision.