Medicare 2026

Medicare Scams Spike Before Dec. 7: How Roanoke Can Stay Safe

ROANOKE, Va. — With the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period running through December 7, phones are ringing, mailboxes are filling up, and scammers are working overtime. Federal fraud investigators say the weeks between mid-October and early December are the busiest of the year for Medicare-related cons, and Roanoke residents are already reporting a familiar wave of suspicious calls, texts, and door knocks.

The good news: most of these scams follow a small number of predictable patterns. Once you know the playbook, they're much easier to spot — and to shut down.

Why scams surge during enrollment season

Between October 15 and December 7, people with Medicare are actively comparing Part D drug plans and Medicare Advantage plans. That means they're expecting to hear about coverage — which is exactly what scammers count on.

Add in some real Part D changes people are curious about — the out-of-pocket cap on Part D drug costs ($2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027), the maximum Part D deductible ($615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027), and the ongoing Medicare Prescription Payment Plan that lets you spread drug costs across the year — and you have a lot of legitimate questions in the air. Fraudsters use that confusion as cover.

Roanoke is in Roanoke City, one of Virginia's independent cities, where a wide range of Medicare Advantage and Part D plans are available. That variety is a good thing for consumers — but it also gives scammers plenty of fake "plans" to name-drop.

The most common Medicare scams to watch for right now

Based on alerts from the Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) and Medicare.gov, these are the scams showing up most often this fall:

• The "new Medicare card" call. Someone claims your card is being updated (for a chip, a flex card, a 2027 benefit, etc.) and asks you to "verify" your Medicare number. Medicare will never call you out of the blue to ask for it.
• Fake Advantage or Part D "agents." A caller pressures you to switch plans today, promises benefits that sound too good to be true, or asks for your bank account to "lock in" coverage. Legitimate agents cannot cold-call you.
• "Free" braces, genetic tests, or CGMs. You're offered a free knee brace, DNA cheek swab, or diabetes monitor — they just need your Medicare number. Medicare then gets billed for equipment you never needed, and you may lose real coverage for those items later.
• IRMAA and "premium refund" scams. Callers claim you owe a surcharge or are due a refund and need to confirm your bank details. IRMAA (which starts above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026) is handled through Social Security by mail, not urgent phone calls.
• Door-to-door "Medicare representatives." No one from Medicare will show up at your Roanoke home unannounced.

How to protect yourself in five simple steps

1. Guard your Medicare number like a credit card. Only share it with your doctor, pharmacist, licensed insurance agent you contacted, or 1-800-MEDICARE. 2. Hang up on pressure. Any caller who says "you must decide today" is not following Medicare's rules. 3. Check your Medicare Summary Notice or MyMedicare.gov account every month for services or equipment you didn't receive. 4. Never pay with gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. No legitimate Medicare contact will ask for those. 5. Write things down. If you get a suspicious call, note the date, time, phone number, and what was said. That's what fraud investigators need.

What to do if you think you've been targeted

If something feels off, you have local, free help. You do not need to figure this out alone.

• Virginia SHIP (Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program, VICAP): Free, unbiased Medicare counseling from trained volunteers. Call 1-800-552-3402.
• Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP): Reports and investigates suspected Medicare fraud. Reach Virginia SMP at 1-800-938-8885.
• Medicare directly: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), 24/7.
• Local Roanoke resources: The Local Office on Aging serving the Roanoke Valley can connect you with counselors in person.

If you already gave out your Medicare number or bank information, call 1-800-MEDICARE right away. In some cases, you can be issued a new Medicare number.

Quick FAQ

Will Medicare ever call me first? Generally, no. Medicare communicates by mail. There are narrow exceptions — for example, if you've already left a message with 1-800-MEDICARE — but an unexpected call asking for personal information is a red flag.

Are the TV ads promising extra benefits scams? Not all of them, but many are misleading. Benefits like grocery cards or "money back on your Social Security check" are only available on some plans, for some people, in some areas. Talk to your SHIP counselor before switching plans based on an ad.

Someone said they can sign me up for the new drug cap. Is that real? The Part D out-of-pocket cap ($2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027) is a Medicare rule that applies automatically to Part D coverage — you don't sign up for it separately, and no one needs your Medicare number to "activate" it.

What if I already switched plans because of a pushy call? You may still have options. During the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 – March 31), people already in a Medicare Advantage plan can make one change. A SHIP counselor can walk you through it.

Where to get trustworthy help

For plan comparisons and official information, use Medicare.gov's Plan Finder or call 1-800-MEDICARE. For one-on-one help in Roanoke, contact Virginia VICAP (SHIP) at 1-800-552-3402. To report suspected fraud, call the Senior Medicare Patrol at 1-800-938-8885.

Enrollment season should be about picking the coverage that fits your life — not fending off strangers who want your Medicare number. A few minutes of caution now can save you months of cleanup later.