Warning of increase in scammers during Medicare open enrollment
from Iowa Insurance Division
Every fall, Medicare beneficiaries have an opportunity to review and change their Prescription Drug Plan or Medicare Advantage Plan during the Open Enrollment Period (OEP) from October 15 to December 7.
Medicare Prescription Drug Plan and Medicare Advantage Plan costs, benefits, drug formularies and provider networks can change each year. Comparing and evaluating options can help individuals find better coverage and even save money - but navigating options can feel overwhelming and stressful. With so many Medicare beneficiaries under pressure to make choices about their 2026 enrollment in a short period of time, scammers are ready to take advantage of their uncertainty.
Medicare fraud has ballooned to an estimated $100 billion each year, which impacts the Medicare Trust Fund and funding for beneficiary services. Below are some common red flags Medicare beneficiaries can look out for to protect themselves and Medicare from scammers:
• Callers claiming to be from Medicare, asking to confirm a Medicare number. Medicare will never call a beneficiary asking for personal information - hang up immediately!
• Unsolicited text messages or phone calls offering assistance with plan comparisons - especially those that put pressure to make an enrollment right away or offer gifts to enroll in a plan.
Anyone who says they need a beneficiary’s Medicare number, Social Security number or bank information to run a plan comparison. This information can be used to enroll a beneficiary in a plan without their permission. Remember, for a plan comparison, only a person’s age and county of residence is needed.
Before enrolling in a plan, Medicare beneficiaries should make sure they understand what the plan covers, whether their providers are in network, if their prescriptions are covered and benefits offered. Medicare beneficiaries receive an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) in September from their Prescription Drug Plan or Medicare Advantage Plan. This is a summary of any changes in the plan’s cost, coverage and service area that will take effect January 1 of the next year. Some beneficiaries will receive notice that their plan is ending, and they will need to find a new plan during the Open Enrollment Period. This is a critical time to read all mail from your plan, provider or Medicare to stay informed of possible changes.
If the Part D or MA plan has not been cancelled and a Medicare beneficiary is happy with current coverage after reviewing plan changes and options for the year ahead, no action is necessary during Open Enrollment. They will automatically be re-enrolled for the following year.
Plan options for the year ahead can be found at Medicare.gov/plan-compare. Through the Medicare website, Medicare beneficiaries can see and compare plan options available in their zip code in 2026, even incorporating their specific prescriptions and pharmacies. “Navigating the Open Enrollment Period can seem daunting, but you don’t have to do it alone,” said Kristin Griffith, Director of the Iowa Insurance Division’s Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) and Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP). “We have well-trained and certified SHIIP-SMP counselors across the state equipped to help you with this process.”
Free, confidential, and unbiased SHIIP-SMP Medicare counseling is provided as a service through the Iowa Insurance Division. There are now three volunteers from the Iowa Insurance Division’s Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) available to offer free, unbiased and confidential assistance to Iowans right here at Veterans Memorial Hospital. Vicky Bloxham has now joined Nancy Schoh and Jim Johnson in providing this one-on-one confidential assistance to anyone needing advice in northeast Iowa. Call the hospital at 563-568-3411 to make an appointment with any one of these trained volunteers.
Help from Medicare is also available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except some federal holidays, at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048.
Key dates to remember:
- October 15: Open enrollment begins
- December 7: Open enrollment closes
- January 1: 2026 coverage begins.
