THIS WEEK
Scammers are using the midterm election to get to you
The FBI is warning that scammers could use the 2026 midterm election to run money and identity scams. They borrow the names, images, logos and slogans of candidates. Then they ask for campaign donations, sell merchandise that never arrives, or collect personal information for other fraud.
Some scammers now use AI tools to make realistic voices, images and messages. These can sound like a candidate, a campaign, a government office or someone you know. The FBI says that makes the scams harder to spot.
How to spot it
A text or email says you are not registered to vote and asks you to click a link to fix it.
Someone says your donation is an investment that will pay you back after a candidate wins, or asks you to recruit others.
A call, text, email or survey comes out of the blue and asks for personal information.
A group that looks like a political action committee spends most of what it raises on fundraising, consulting or administrative costs.
What to do
Do not click links in unexpected messages. To check your voter registration, go to vote.gov yourself.
Before you give, look up the committee on the Federal Election Commission website. Some fake groups do appear registered, so also look at how much they spend on fundraising and administration. Remember that a donation is not an investment and will not be returned.
If you or someone you know is targeted, report it at ic3.gov or to your local FBI field office. Include who contacted you, how, what you were told, what you sent and how you paid.
MONEY THIS WEEK
Medicare Open Enrollment runs through December 7
Medicare Open Enrollment began October 15 and ends December 7, 2026. The 2027 Star Ratings came out October 8 on Medicare Plan Finder. They rate Medicare Advantage and Part D drug plans from one to five stars on quality, and they appear next to benefit and cost information.
What to do: Before December 7, look up your current plan's 2027 costs and star rating on Medicare Plan Finder and compare them with other options.
LIVING WELL
What Medicare covers for long term care
Medicare does not pay for long term help with daily living, such as bathing, dressing and eating, in a nursing home or assisted living. It can cover a short stay in a skilled nursing facility after a qualifying hospital stay. Knowing this early gives a family time to plan.
Medicare covers up to 100 days in a skilled nursing facility after a qualifying hospital stay, with a daily charge after day 20.
Medicaid is the main public program that pays for long term care.
Medicaid has income and asset limits that vary by state, so find out your state's rules early.
ALSO THIS WEEK
Paid search ads can lead to fake Medicare sites
Scammers sometimes pay to appear at the top of search results and use web addresses that look like government sites. Type Medicare.gov into the search bar yourself or call 800-633-4227, and scroll past anything marked "Ad" or "Sponsored".
Ask your doctor if every medicine is still needed
Medications can pile up as we age, and some combine to cause side effects. One geriatrics doctor says that at six or seven prescriptions, the chance of some side effect or intolerance is nearly 100%, so ask your doctor whether each medicine is still right for you.
Source: KFF Health News, October 5, 2026
Think it's a scam? Ask SAM
Hang up or set it aside first. Then talk it through with SAM before you do anything.