Medicare 2026

Medicare AEP in Union Township: what you can change by Dec 7

UNION TOWNSHIP, N.J. — With Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period running through December 7, phones across Union Township are ringing more than usual — and not all of those calls are legitimate. Federal and state fraud watchdogs say scam activity climbs sharply every fall, when con artists know older adults are thinking about their coverage and are more likely to pick up.

Scam calls are surging as the Dec. 7 deadline nears

The Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP), the federally funded program that tracks Medicare fraud, has warned that this year's schemes are getting more sophisticated. Some now use artificial intelligence to mimic real voices. Others piggyback on recent Part D changes — like the out-of-pocket cap, which is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027 — to sound informed and trustworthy.

Here's what Union Township residents should watch for, and how to shut a scam down before it costs you money or your Medicare number.

The scams showing up most this season

Fraud reports collected by SMP and the Federal Trade Commission point to a handful of patterns that dominate every fall:

• "We need to verify your new Medicare card." There is no new card for 2027. If someone calls, texts, or knocks on your door asking you to confirm your Medicare number for a replacement card, it's a scam.
• Fake "benefits" or "flex" cards. Ads and robocalls promise big grocery, rent, or gas allowances to anyone on Medicare. These pitches are designed to harvest your information and steer you into a plan you didn't research.
• Bogus Part D "cap enrollment." The annual out-of-pocket cap on prescription drugs is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027, and scammers claim you must "sign up" or "activate" it. You don't. The cap applies automatically to Part D coverage.
• Free medical equipment or genetic testing kits. Callers offer braces, catheters, or DNA screening in exchange for your Medicare number. Medicare is then billed for items you never needed.
• Door-to-door "Medicare agents." Licensed agents are not allowed to show up at your home uninvited. Anyone who does is breaking Medicare's marketing rules.

How to spot a scammer in one minute

A few quick tells almost always give a fraudster away:

• They contacted you first. Medicare does not call, text, email, or visit unannounced.
• They pressure you to act "today." Real enrollment decisions can wait until you've compared options.
• They ask for your Medicare, Social Security, or bank number. Never give these to someone who called you.
• They ask you to pay with a gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency. No legitimate agency does this. Ever.
• They claim to be from "Medicare Coordination" or "the Medicare Center." These are not real government offices.

When in doubt, hang up. You are not being rude — you are being careful.

What to do if you already shared information

If you gave out your Medicare number or bank details, act fast but don't panic:

1. Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) and report it. Ask them to flag your account. 2. Contact the New Jersey Senior Medicare Patrol at 732-777-1940. Trained counselors help residents document and report suspected fraud at no cost. 3. Review your Medicare Summary Notice or your MyMedicare.gov account for charges you don't recognize. 4. If a bank account or credit card was involved, notify your bank and place a fraud alert with the credit bureaus.

Reporting matters even if you don't think money was lost. Every report helps investigators shut down the operation before it reaches your neighbor.

Where legitimate help lives in Union County

Union Township is in Union County, where Medicare beneficiaries have dozens of Medicare Advantage and stand-alone Part D options to sort through each fall. That's a lot to compare, and it's exactly why scammers try to insert themselves as "helpers."

Free, unbiased help is available from sources that don't sell insurance:

• SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) — in New Jersey, this is called SHIP NJ, reached at 1-800-792-8820. Counselors will sit with you and walk through your options.
• Medicare.gov — the official Plan Finder lets you compare coverage by ZIP code.
• 1-800-MEDICARE — staffed 24/7 for general questions.
• Union County Division on Aging — a local starting point for benefits counseling and referrals.

Key facts a scammer can't twist if you know them

Knowing the real numbers makes it much harder for a con artist to bluff you:

• Part D out-of-pocket drug costs are capped at $2,100 in 2026 — automatically.
• The Part D deductible cannot exceed $615.
• The old coverage gap ("donut hole") is gone as of 2025.
• The optional Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs across the year in monthly installments.
• IRMAA income surcharges begin above $109,000 for single filers in 2026.
• Annual Enrollment Period: October 15 – December 7. Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: January 1 – March 31.