Medicare Open Enrollment Scams 2026: Warning Signs To Know Now

Every year between October 15 and December 7, Medicare opens what it calls the Annual Enrollment Period, or AEP. It is the one window when most people on Medicare can change their plan. Scammers know exactly when it starts and ends, and they treat it like Black Friday. The phone calls multiply. The TV ads turn aggressive. The mailers get scarier. The 2026 versions are sharper than ever.

This guide is not about which plan to pick. That is between you, your doctor, and a licensed broker. This is about the scams that target you during the window, the warning signs that tell you a caller is not who they claim to be, and the one rule that protects you from almost all of it.

This article is informational and not medical, legal, or insurance advice. Always confirm plan details on Medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.

What Open Enrollment actually is

A quick refresher so the scams make sense.

Open Enrollment (AEP) runs October 15 through December 7 each year. During this window you can:

• Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, or vice versa.
• Change your Medicare Advantage plan.
• Add, drop, or change a Part D prescription drug plan.

Any change you make takes effect January 1 of the following year. There is also a separate Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from January 1 to March 31, which is narrower. For a step-by-step on the official site, see How To Use The Medicare Portal Online.

Why scammers love this window

Three reasons.

1. You expect calls. During AEP, legitimate brokers, your existing plan, and SHIP counselors really do reach out. Scammers hide in that traffic.

2. The choices are confusing. Medicare Advantage, Part D, supplements, special needs plans, dual-eligibles. Most people are not sure what they have. A scammer who sounds confident sounds like the answer.

3. The deadline creates urgency. "Sign by Friday or you lose this benefit" works because some deadlines really are that tight in this window.

For more on the broader pattern of phone scams, see Phone Scams Targeting Seniors.

The 2026 scam scripts

These are real scripts circulating right now. Federal and state agencies have flagged each one.

Script 1 — "The new Medicare flex card"

The caller says you qualify for a "new Medicare flex card" worth $2,800 a year for groceries, utilities, and over-the-counter medicine. They need your Medicare number to "activate" it.

Truth. Some Medicare Advantage plans really do offer flex cards, with much smaller amounts (typically $150 to $500). Original Medicare does not have a flex card. No one will ever call you out of the blue and offer one. Read more in Medicare Prescription Cap Scam, which uses similar tactics.

Script 2 — "Your Medicare card is expiring"

The caller says your Medicare card is being replaced and they need to confirm your number, address, and Social Security number. They may say there is a new chip, a new metal version, or a 2026 update.

Truth. Medicare cards do not expire. The replacement card scam has its own deep dive in Medicare Card Replacement Scam Guide 2026.

Script 3 — "Free back brace, knee brace, or DNA test"

The caller offers you a free medical device or genetic test "covered by Medicare." They just need your Medicare number to ship it.

Truth. They are billing Medicare thousands of dollars for cheap or never-shipped items in your name. This is one of the most common forms of Medicare fraud and it directly raises your premiums next year.

Script 4 — "Medicare is calling because you missed Open Enrollment"

The caller says you missed the deadline but they can "still get you in" if you act today.

Truth. Medicare itself does not cold-call. And missing AEP is rarely a permanent problem because of Medicare Annual Notice Of Change protections and Special Enrollment Periods.

Script 5 — The TV ad with a celebrity

A famous actor or athlete on a daytime commercial says you may qualify for "extra benefits Medicare is not telling you about." You call the number on screen.

Truth. Many of these are real, licensed brokers — but their compensation is per enrollment, so the agent on the line is incentivized to sign you up for the plan that pays them, not the plan that fits you. Hang up and use the Medicare Plan Finder to compare on your own time, or call your free SHIP counselor.

The seven warning signs

If a call, email, or letter has any of these, end the conversation.

1. They contacted you out of the blue. Real Medicare, your real plan, and your real SHIP counselor do not cold-call.
2. They ask for your Medicare number, Social Security number, or bank info on the first call. No legitimate enrollment requires this on a cold call.
3. They use the word "free" more than twice. Real Medicare benefits are described in plain language.
4. They pressure you to decide today. No real plan deadline ends the same day a stranger calls you.
5. They say they are from "Medicare" specifically. Medicare is a government program; it does not employ telemarketers.
6. They offer to "keep your current doctors and add benefits" without checking the plan. A real broker confirms doctor networks one by one.
7. They ask you to confirm or repeat back personal information. This is a scammer's technique to get a recording of you saying "yes" that they reuse later.

For a similar checklist that applies to all medical-billing scams, see Medicare Scams: How To Protect Yourself.

The one rule that protects you

Never make a Medicare decision on an inbound call. Ever.

If someone calls about a plan, write down what they said, hang up, and verify by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or signing in at medicare.gov. If the offer was real, it will still be there 24 hours from now. If the caller pushes back on this, you have your answer.

Who you can actually trust

There are four real, free resources during AEP.

• Medicare Plan Finder — medicare.gov/plan-compare. Lets you enter your prescriptions and ZIP code and compare every plan in your area.
• SHIP counselors — your State Health Insurance Assistance Program. Free, unbiased, one-on-one help. Find yours at shiphelp.org or 1-877-839-2675.
• Your existing plan's Annual Notice of Change letter — mailed to you in late September. Walkthrough at Medicare Annual Notice Of Change 2026.
• A licensed independent broker you found yourself, not one who called you. Ask if they are paid by carrier (most are) and which carriers they sell.

What to do if you already gave information

If you gave your Medicare number, call 1-800-MEDICARE and report it. They can flag your account for unusual claims. Also report to:

• Senior Medicare Patrol — 1-877-808-2468 — specifically for Medicare fraud.
• AARP Fraud Watch Helpline — 1-877-908-3360 — free counseling.
• The FTC — reportfraud.ftc.gov.

For the full recovery checklist, see How To Report A Scam and AARP Fraud Watch Resources.

A short pre-AEP checklist

Two weeks before October 15, do these:

• Pull last year's plan documents and confirm your premium, deductible, and copays.
• List your prescriptions, doses, and pharmacy.
• Confirm your doctors are in your current plan's network.
• Bookmark medicare.gov/plan-compare.
• Save the SHIP number for your state.

When the calls start, you will already know what you need. The scammers will not get a foothold.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does Medicare Open Enrollment 2026 end?

Open Enrollment for 2027 plans runs October 15, 2026 through December 7, 2026. Any change made during this window takes effect January 1, 2027. Outside that window, only people with qualifying life events (moving, losing employer coverage, etc.) can switch.

Will Medicare ever call me directly?

No. Medicare does not make unsolicited calls. The exception is if you yourself called 1-800-MEDICARE first and they are returning your call to a number you confirmed. If a call is unexpected, it is not Medicare.

Is the Medicare flex card real?

Some Medicare Advantage plans offer small flex-card benefits (groceries, OTC items) typically worth $150 to $500 per year. Original Medicare does not have one. The "$2,800 free flex card" pitch is a scam every time.

Can I lose my current plan if I miss Open Enrollment?

Generally no. If you do not make a change between October 15 and December 7, your current Medicare Advantage or Part D plan automatically continues, with the changes outlined in your Annual Notice of Change letter. You only lose coverage if your plan is leaving the area, in which case you get a Special Enrollment Period.

Should I work with a licensed broker?

A good independent broker can save you hours of comparison and is paid by the carrier, not by you. The risks are: brokers who only sell one carrier, brokers who push the highest-commission plan, and brokers who cold-called you. Find one yourself, ask which carriers they represent, and confirm they are licensed in your state at the National Insurance Producer Registry (nipr.com).