Medicare 2026

Your Medicare Card in Peachtree Corners: Guard It Like Cash

PEACHTREE CORNERS, Ga. — Your red, white, and blue Medicare card is small, but the number on it is powerful. It can be used to bill Medicare for doctor visits, tests, equipment, and prescriptions. In the wrong hands, it can also be used to commit fraud in your name — sometimes for years before anyone notices.

Why your Medicare number matters more than you think

The good news: a few simple habits can keep your number safe. And if something does go wrong, there are free, trusted places to turn for help right here in Georgia.

Treat your Medicare number like a credit card

Medicare officials and the Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) put it plainly: guard your Medicare Number the way you guard your Social Security or credit card number.

That means:

• Don't share it over the phone with anyone who calls you first.
• Don't post photos of your card on social media, even to celebrate turning 65.
• Only give it to trusted people — your doctor, pharmacist, insurer, or someone you've asked to help with your care.
• Carry your card only when you need it. Keep it in a safe place at home the rest of the time.

Medicare will never call, text, or email you out of the blue asking for your Medicare Number, bank details, or a payment to "keep your coverage active."

Common scams to watch for in 2027

Scammers change their scripts, but the tricks tend to repeat. In and around Peachtree Corners, the Georgia SMP and local law enforcement have flagged several patterns worth knowing:

• Free brace, cream, or genetic test offers. A caller or booth promises a "free" item if you just share your Medicare Number. Medicare then gets billed for something you didn't need — and you may be denied that item later when you truly need it.
• Fake plan agents. Around the fall enrollment window, some callers claim to be "from Medicare" and pressure you to switch plans on the spot. Real Medicare employees don't sell plans.
• New card scams. No one from Medicare will charge you for a new card, and cards do not "expire" every year. If your card is lost, you can request a free replacement at Medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.
• Text and email phishing. Messages asking you to "verify" your Medicare Number or click a link are almost always fake.

When in doubt, hang up. You can always call Medicare back yourself at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

How to spot fraud on your own statements

The easiest way to catch fraud early is to read your Medicare paperwork. Two documents do most of the work for you:

• Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) — mailed every three months if you have Original Medicare, or viewable anytime at MyMedicare.gov.
• Explanation of Benefits (EOB) — sent by your Medicare Advantage or Part D plan.

Look for services, dates, or providers you don't recognize. Duplicate charges. Equipment you never received. If something looks off, it might be a billing error — or it might be fraud. Either way, it's worth a call.

What's new for 2027 that scammers may exploit

A few Medicare changes taking effect in 2027 are already showing up in scam scripts. Knowing the real rules makes the fake ones easier to spot:

• 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. No one needs your Medicare Number to "activate" this — it's automatic.
• Part D deductible: up to $615 in 2026 ($700 in 2027), depending on the plan.
• The coverage gap ("donut hole") is gone as of 2025. There are now three payment phases, not four.
• Medicare Prescription Payment Plan: an optional, free way to spread your drug costs across the year in monthly payments. You sign up through your drug plan — never through a stranger who calls you.
• IRMAA surcharges begin above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026. These are set by Social Security, not by a plan agent.

If a caller tells you that you must "pay a fee" or "share your number" to get any of these benefits, that's a red flag.

Local plan choices — and why that matters for fraud

Peachtree Corners is in Gwinnett County, where residents typically have a wide range of Medicare Advantage and Part D plans to choose from during Medicare's enrollment windows. A crowded marketplace is good for choice, but it also gives scammers cover — it's easier to pretend to be "your plan" when there are many real ones.

Two dates worth marking:

• Annual Enrollment Period: October 15 – December 7.
• Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: January 1 – March 31.

Around these windows, calls, mailers, and door-knocks tend to spike. Legitimate agents will not ask for your Medicare Number before you've agreed to speak with them, and they won't pressure you to decide the same day.

If you think you've been targeted

You have options, and they're free:

• Call 1-800-MEDICARE to report suspicious billing.
• Contact the Georgia Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) at 1-866-552-4464 (option 4) for one-on-one help reviewing your statements.
• Reach the Georgia SHIP (GeorgiaCares) at the same number, option 4, for unbiased answers about your coverage.
• If you shared your number, watch your MSNs and EOBs closely for the next several months.

You will not lose your Medicare coverage for reporting fraud. In fact, reports help protect other people in your community.