In April 2018, the government began mailing revamped Medicare cards to the almost 60 million individuals enrolled in the program. In January 2019, Medicare announced that all cards were mailed, ending a nearly nine-month rollout process. When you received your new Medicare card, you may not have noticed much of a difference. But, despite their similar appearance, the new Medicare cards have several key advantages over their predecessor. Here are six things you should know about your new Medicare card.
1. Your new Medicare card is designed to keep you safe
For years, many have called for Medicare to remove Social Security numbers from cards in order to keep beneficiaries safe. The new cards take this to heart and are designed to reduce the risks of scams and identity theft. This is why the new cards no longer feature your Social Security number. Instead, you have a new 11-digit Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI), or Medicare Number. To further protect your personal information and enhance your safety, your new Medicare card no longer includes your gender or requires a signature.
Your New Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI)
Your new Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI), also called a Medicare Number, can be found printed on the front of the card. It consists of numbers 0-9 and a random assortment of uppercase letters. You’ll use this number instead of your Social Security number to verify your identity for things like billing, claim status and eligibility status. You should treat your MBI as Personally Identifiable Information—meaning that you should keep it confidential. Never share your Medicare Number with anyone who contacts you by phone or email, unless you’ve given them permission in advance.
Only share your Medicare Number with doctors, pharmacists and other health care providers, along with your insurers and people you give permission to work with Medicare on your behalf.
2. Your card is free, and you don’t have to pay for it
If you receive a call from someone claiming to work with Medicare who demands payment for your new card, hang up. Your card is provided free of charge and you do not need to pay to receive it, or pay to activate it.
3. You can use your new card right away
Your new card is active as soon as you receive it. While doctors and other health care providers can accept the old cards during a transition period until December 31, 2019, it’s best to switch to using your new card right away. It’s also recommended that you shred or otherwise destroy your old card, so it won’t fall into the wrong hands.
4. Your coverage stays the same
While you do have a new card, your coverage and benefits remain exactly the same as before. That means you can still go to the same doctor’s offices and hospitals to receive care.
You can add to/modify your Medicare coverage with either Part D or Medicare Advantage plans during the yearly open enrollment period, from October 15 to December 7. Enrollment in Medicare Part B (and Part A if you were not enrolled automatically) is available from January 1 to March 31.
5. It’s important to “guard your card” and avoid scams
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) emphasizes that it’s important to “guard your card” and look out for common scams that target Medicare beneficiaries. While removing Social Security numbers from the new cards cuts down on many forms of identity theft, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) found that new scams started as soon as the new cards were announced.
Medicare will only call you in the following scenarios:
- The agent who helped you join Medicare can call you.
- A Medicare health or drug plan can call you, if you’re already a member of the plan.
- A Medicare customer service representative can call you if you’ve either left a message or been told by a representative that someone will call you back. The caller ID will read 1-800-MEDICARE.
Experts recommend that you avoid carrying your new Medicare card unless you’re going to a doctor’s appointment and know the doctor needs to see it. Once the office has your card information on file, you shouldn’t need to show it during visits. Consider storing it safely at home, somewhere you can access in an emergency. If you have a Vial of Life, you can put a scanned copy of your Medicare card in the vial with the included emergency information sheet.
If you have a smartphone, you can access a digital version of your card by signing in to MyMedicare.gov. That way, you can keep your physical card in a safe place and still have your Medicare number handy when you need it.
6. Information for Medicate Advantage and Medicare Part D plan members
If you’re enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, such as an HMO or PPO, continue to use your plan’s Member ID. Keep your new Medicare card somewhere safe, and take it with you to doctors’ appointments in case a health care provider asks to see it.
If you’re enrolled in a stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, continue to use your Medicare Part D plan Member ID card for your prescription drug coverage. Your new Medicare card can be used to provide evidence of your Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B coverage.
What if I didn’t get my card?
If you did not receive your new Medicare card, you can contact Medicare at 1-800-Medicare (1-800-633-4227). The representative will be able to check the status of your new card. You’ll need to verify your mailing address to ensure accuracy.
Your Medicare card was mailed in a plain white envelope. Try looking through your drawers and cabinets to see if the card was simply set aside unknowingly. Check with your neighbors to see if they received your card by mistake. If it turns out that your card got misplaced or thrown away accidentally, you can sign in to MyMedicare.gov to see your new Medicare Number and go to SSA.gov to request a new card.
Next Steps
If you have any questions about Medicare cards, coverage or plans, contact Medicare directly at 1-800-MEDICARE (633-4227) or visit Medicare.gov.
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