Texas Senior Medicare Patrol

01/05/2026

🎆 It is officially 2026, and as a new year restarts, so do our Medicare plans! Here are some steps you can take to make the most out of your Medicare:

✅ Verify you are on the correct plan: Log in to Medicare.gov to ensure your plan is correct. If it's not, contact your local Area Agency on Aging to get it fixed.

🥼 Know your benefits & use them: Do your research and know what providers are in network. Benefits reset on January 1st, so be sure to use the benefits that are covered under your plan.

📄 Look out for fraud! Read all of your Medicare Summary Notices to ensure your providers, services, and costs are all accurate. Don't forget to use your health care tracker to keep a record of all the information you are given or changes the doctor may make.

Need to report Medicare fraud? 📞 Call TXSMP at 888-341-6187 or visit www.TexasSMP.org for more information and updates!

01/02/2026

It's a new year, and we'd like to take a moment to reintroduce ourselves to everyone. 🤠

🤝 Partnered with over 30 different agencies and organizations across the state, and overflowing with resources, we are on a mission to help stop Medicare fraud!

🌐 Interested in learning more about our program or how you can contact us? Visit our website for more info at texassmp.org

01/01/2026

Happy New Year from the TXSMP team to you!

12/29/2025

It's almost the new year, and we are building our 2026 calendar! 🎆

We go all across Texas hosting presentations and activities that educated beneficiaries, families and caregivers about Medicare fraud and scams. Interested in having us come out?

Contact us!

📩 Send us a dm or email [email protected]
📞 713-341-6187

12/25/2025

🎄 Happy Holidays from the TXSMP Team to you 🫂

To all of our volunteers, partners, and caregivers, we hope you take this time to wind down from all the great work you do for older adults all across Texas! 🧡

12/23/2025

Watch out for this popular holiday scam! Not every app is all fun and games... 📲👾

12/19/2025

📵 Medicare will NEVER call to ask you for payment... Requests for money through wire transfer, Bitcoin, e-pay applications such as Zelle or Apple Pay, or via gift cards are all scams.

🆘 If you receive a call like this, report it! Call TXSMP Hotline at 1-888-341-6187

12/17/2025

The TXSMP team is extremely proud to say this year we were able to spread some holiday cheer with our very first BBB Education Foundation Giving Tree! 🎄

🫂Our team, BBB board members and staff, and our partners were able to give back to the underserved older adults within the Houston community by partnering with Senior Rides and More. They are a faith-based nonprofit with a mission to promote senior independent living, health, and safety by providing free transportation and a multitude of other services. Serving over ONE THOUSAND members of the community, the Senior Rides and More team is helping us make a significant impact within Houston! 💙

Thank you to everyone who donated to our holiday project, and a very special thank you to Miss Katherine with Houston Event Planning and the
Houston Asian Chamber of Commerce! We could not the holiday cheer with all of you and your amazing donations 🎁

12/17/2025

TXSMP Case Specialist Eloisa Ramirez was mentioned in the New York Times!

Read this short article discussing the rise in Medicare scam calls, including several testimonials from people all across the US, and even one from a case here in Texas...

Complaints about the calls have risen, and some older Americans have discovered that their Medicare accounts were already compromised.

12/15/2025

From mystery chocolates to mini makeup products and even golf-themed surprises, each year, companies are coming up with new items to put into Advent calendars! 🎁

Many companies and "influencers" are promising luxury prizes, gift cards, or cash just for liking, sharing, or commenting. Although they may sound like a fun way to count down to Christmas, scammers are using fake social media ads to steal your personal and banking information. 📲

Before you click:
✔️ Verify the page is official, always read reviews from verified customers and do your research on the company.
✔️ Be cautious of urgent messages or messages asking for your banking information in order to join a waitlist for the gift. If you are purchasing an item online, be sure to always use a credit card. NEVER pay with wire transfer, bitcoin, or your bank account information.
✔️ Remember: When in doubt, don’t engage and report the post.

Keep you and your loved ones safe from scams this season by sharing this information! 🎄🔒

12/13/2025

The holiday season is a time filled with laughter, cheer, ... and scams?!

Be on the lookout for these popular scams so that we can spend more time with our loved ones and not scammers:

📲 Fake Social Media Ads - Always check reviews, compare prices and stick to trusted retailers. If it's too good to be true... it probably is!

🌐 Look-alike Websites - Online shopping is only convenient if it is legitimate. Be sure to double-check URLs before inputting our personal or credit card information.

🎁 Social Media Gift Exchange - Purchasing one gift and receiving 36 sounds like a great deal, but this is actually a seasonal pyramid scheme... Participating in this is illegal and can lead to serious consequences.

👷Temporary Holiday Jobs - Holiday gifts can get expensive, and scammers know that! Watch out for emails or texts that require you to share your info online or pay for a job lead. Hiring without an interview can be a red flag; be sure to apply through legitimate websites or in person.

🗨️ Fake Shipping Notifications - Expecting a package in the mail? Always make sure to track your shipments through the original tracking link; avoid clicking on links through text messages.

💳 Free Gift Cards - Very few things are actually ever free... remember, if you have to provide your personal or banking information in exchange for a "free gift" it is NOT free.

🧓 Grandparent Scams - This time of year, we may receive more calls from loved ones than usual. AI is now being used to clone the voices of our loved ones, hang up the phone and call back personally!

Report Medicare fraud to 1-888-341-6187

12/12/2025

Cashiers, you can save the holidays! Did you know that scammers trick seniors to buy gift cards for fake emergencies? You can play a huge role in stopping these scammers and protecting people.

Here’s how cashiers can help:

🚫 Pause the purchase: If a customer seems confused or upset while buying large amounts of gift cards, gently ask if someone told them to make the purchase.
💬 Start the conversation: Explain that government agencies, tech companies, and legitimate businesses never ask for payment with gift cards.
🧾 Post reminders: Display signs near gift card racks warning about scams.
📞 Encourage reporting: Suggest contacting local law enforcement if they are worried.

A simple question at the checkout could save someone from losing their savings.