For years, I’ve wondered about the wisdom of carrying your Medicare card in your purse or wallet, since, if either were stolen, the thief also could steal your identity. The recommendation for consumers has been to not carry your Medicare card around with you and just get it out when you go to the doctor or hospital. However, that doesn’t seem workable if you have an emergency.
Beginning in April, Medicare will start mailing new cards to all Medicare recipients. Instead of having your Social Security number, the new cards will have a unique Medicare number. The cards will be mailed to everyone who receives Medicare benefits, so you don’t need to do anything or pay anyone to get it.
Medicare will mail your card to the address you have on file with the Social Security Administration. If you need to update your mailing address, visit your online Social Security account or call 800-772-1213. When you get your new card, your Medicare coverage and benefits will stay the same.
The cards will be mailed in waves, to different parts of the country, from April 2018 until April 2019. So, your card may arrive at a different time from others you know. You can check the rollout schedule to get a better idea when you may be receiving your card.
When you get your new card, be sure to shred your old one, said Lisa Weintraub Schifferle, attorney for the Federal Trade Commission’s Division of Consumer and Business Education. If you have a separate Medicare Advantage card, keep that because you’ll continue to need it for treatment.
As the new Medicare cards start being mailed, the FTC advises consumers to lookout for Medicare scams such as these:
- Don’t pay for your new card. It’s yours for free. If anyone calls and says you need to pay for it, that’s a scam.
- Don’t give personal information to get your card. If someone calls claiming to be from Medicare, asking for your Social Security number or bank information, that’s a scam. Hang up. Medicare will never ask you to give personal information to get your new number and card.
- Guard your card. When you get your new card, safeguard it like you would any other health insurance or credit card. While removing the Social Security number cuts down on many types of identity theft, you’ll still want to protect your new card because identity thieves could use it to get medical services.
For more information about changes to your Medicare card go to go.medicare.gov/newcard. If you’re a victim of a scam, report it to the FTC.
