Medicare Part D
Medicare card fraud in Memphis: how the number gets misused
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Your red, white and blue Medicare card is small, but the number on it is powerful. In the wrong hands, it can be used to bill Medicare for services you never got, drain benefits you may need later, and drag you into a paperwork mess that takes months to sort out.
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Key takeaways
- Your Medicare number should only be shared with trusted people like your doctor, pharmacist, insurer, or 1-800-MEDICARE, since Medicare never calls, texts, or emails to ask for it out of the blue.
- Checking your Medicare Summary Notice (or Explanation of Benefits for Medicare Advantage members) regularly can help you spot services, dates, or equipment that don't look right.
- If a bill seems wrong, call your provider first, and if it still doesn't add up, contact the Tennessee SMP at 1-866-836-6678 or 1-800-MEDICARE.
- Watch out for claims of a "new 2027 benefit" or a "special deadline" requiring your Medicare number over the phone, since these are common scam tactics, and free unbiased help is available through TN SHIP at 1-877-801-0044.
Here in Memphis, seniors tell the same stories year after year: a stranger calls claiming to be from "Medicare," a text promises a free brace or genetic test, or someone at a health fair asks for a Medicare number "just to check eligibility." The good news is that a few simple habits can keep you safe. Here's what to guard, and why.
Treat your Medicare number like a credit card
Your Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) — the 11-character code on your card — is the key to your health benefits. According to Medicare.gov, you should only share it with people you trust: your doctor, your pharmacist, your insurer, and 1-800-MEDICARE.
A good rule of thumb: if they called you, don't give out your number. Medicare will not call, text, or email you out of the blue to ask for it. Anyone who does is almost certainly running a scam.
Know the scams making the rounds
The Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP), the federally funded program that helps people spot Medicare fraud, tracks the most common tricks each year. In 2026 and heading into 2027, watch for:
- "New card" calls. There is no new plastic or metal Medicare card coming. If someone offers one, hang up.
- Free medical equipment offers. Braces, catheters, and continuous glucose monitors are common bait. Scammers bill Medicare for costly items you may never receive — or receive and don't need.
- Genetic or cancer screening tents at fairs, churches, or parking lots. A legitimate test is ordered by your doctor, not a stranger with a swab.
- Fake "Medicare Advantage" or "Part D" agents who pressure you to decide today. Real licensed agents will give you time and written information.
Check your Medicare Summary Notice every quarter
One of the easiest ways to catch fraud early is to read the statements Medicare sends you. If you have Original Medicare, you'll get a Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) every three months. Medicare Advantage members get an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) from their plan.
Look for services you don't recognize, dates you weren't at the doctor, or equipment you never received. If something looks off, call your provider first — sometimes it's a billing code mix-up. If it still doesn't add up, call the Tennessee SMP at 1-866-836-6678 or 1-800-MEDICARE.
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 Shelby County
(MA penetration in Shelby 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 in 2027 (and why scammers love change)
Every time Medicare updates its rules, scammers use the confusion. Here are the real 2027 facts, straight from the program:
- Part D out-of-pocket costs are capped at $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027 for the year.
- The Part D deductible can be no higher than $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027.
- The old "donut hole" is gone — Part D now has three phases, not four (this took effect in 2025).
- The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread your drug costs across the year in monthly payments, at no extra charge. It's optional.
- IRMAA surcharges (higher premiums for higher earners) start above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.
If anyone claims a "new 2027 benefit" requires your Medicare number over the phone, that's your cue to hang up.
Memphis-area help is closer than you think
Memphis is in Shelby County, where Medicare beneficiaries have access to Original Medicare plus a range of Medicare Advantage and standalone Part D plans offered by multiple carriers. For 2027, Shelby County has 67 Medicare Advantage plans from 11 carriers — Medicare.gov's Plan Finder shows the current list for your ZIP code.
For free, unbiased help — not a sales call — Tennessee's SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program), known locally as TN SHIP, offers one-on-one counseling. You can reach them at 1-877-801-0044.
Enrollment dates to keep on your calendar
Scammers often use enrollment deadlines to create panic. Know the real ones so you're never rushed:
- Annual Enrollment Period: October 15 – December 7 (change your Part D or Medicare Advantage plan).
- Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: January 1 – March 31 (if you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can switch once).
Anything else you hear — "final day," "special Memphis-only window" — is not a real Medicare deadline.
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 already gave my Medicare number to someone who called. What do I do?
Q: Can I get a new Medicare number if mine is compromised?
Q: My doctor's office asks for my card at every visit. Is that safe?
- CMS — Medicare Part D program rules (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.