When you get your new card, safeguard it as you would health insurance or credit cards. Give your new Medicare number only to doctors, pharmacists, other health care providers, your insurers, or people you trust to work with Medicare on your behalf. Your new card will automatically come to you.
Full Answer
What happens when you get a new Medicare card?
New Medicare Cards Are on the Way. Instead of your Social Security Number (SSN), your new Medicare card will include a new number unique to you. This will help to protect you against identity theft and protect Medicare from fraud. Medicare will automatically mail your new card to the address you have on file with Social Security.
Why do I need a new Social Security number for Medicare?
Instead of your Social Security Number (SSN), your new Medicare card will include a new number unique to you. This will help to protect you against identity theft and protect Medicare from fraud.
Why do I need to Change my Medicare card address?
This will help to protect you against identity theft and protect Medicare from fraud. Medicare will automatically mail your new card to the address you have on file with Social Security. As long as your address is up to date, there’s nothing you need to do!
How do I protect my Medicare number?
Protect your Medicare Number like you would your credit cards. Only give your new Medicare Number to doctors, pharmacists, other health care providers, your insurer, or people you trust to work with Medicare on your behalf.
How do I protect my Medicare card?
You can buy a plastic ID card holder at a stationery store to protect your card. If your Medicare card gets lost or damaged, you can contact the Social Security Administration to replace it by going to the agency's website.
Can someone steal my Medicare card?
Identity theft (or identity swapping) is when someone uses your personal information to commit fraud. But can someone steal your identity with just your Medicare card or number? Unfortunately, they can.
Is there a way to protect your Social Security number?
Other ways to protect your information include not routinely carrying your card or other documents that display your number with you. Also, be careful about sharing your number, even when you're asked for it. You should ask why your number is needed, how it'll be used, and what will happen if you refuse.
Should you keep your Medicare card with you?
Keep your Medicare Advantage Card: If you're in a Medicare Advantage Plan (like an HMO or PPO), your Medicare Advantage Plan ID card is your main card for Medicare – you should still keep and use it whenever you need care. However, you also may be asked to show your new Medicare card, so you should carry this card too.
Will the new Medicare cards be plastic?
The short answer is no. Medicare is not replacing your paper card with a plastic chip card. Scammers tried this con a few years ago. They've apparently fired it up again, as a lot of viewers are telling us about getting this call.
How do I check to see if someone is using my Social Security number for free?
If you believe someone is using your Social Security number to work, get your tax refund, or other abuses involving taxes, contact the IRS online or call 1-800-908-4490. You can order free credit reports annually from the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion).
Where should I keep my Social Security card?
Social Security cards Keep your social security card locked up in a safe at home. Don't carry it around with you in your wallet, as that's an easy way to have it, and your identity, stolen. See our picks for the best identity theft protection services.
Is LifeLock legitimate?
If you're in the market for identity theft protection, LifeLock is one of the top providers to consider—especially since annual memberships come with a 60-day money-back guarantee.
Should you always carry your Social Security card?
Don't Carry Your Social Security Card in Your Wallet Losing protection of your full Social Security number is a fast track to identity theft. Once it's loose, identify thieves will exploit it to get loans in your name, obtain credit cards or other financial chicanery.
Why are Social Security numbers removed from Medicare cards?
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is readying a fraud prevention initiative that removes Social Security numbers from Medicare cards to help combat identity theft, and safeguard taxpayer dollars.
What is the new Medicare card?
The new cards will use a unique, randomly-assigned number called a Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI), to replace the Social Security-based Health Insurance Claim Number (HICN) currently used on the Medicare card.
When will Medicare cards be replaced?
CMS will begin mailing new cards in April 2018 and will meet the congressional deadline for replacing all Medicare cards by April 2019. Today, CMS kicks-off a multi-faceted outreach campaign to help providers get ready for the new MBI.
When did CMS testify?
CMS testified on Tuesday, May 23 rd before the U.S. House Committee on Ways & Means Subcommittee on Social Security and U.S. House Committee on Oversight & Government Reform Subcommittee on Information Technology, addressing CMS’s comprehensive plan for the removal of Social Security numbers and transition to MBIs.
How does Medicare help?
Medicare helped by removing Social Security numbers from Medicare cards and replacing them with a new, unique number for each person with Medicare. This decreases your vulnerability to medical and/or identity theft.
Can Medicare contact you if you have a Social Security number?
Here are some important steps you can take to protect yourself from the identity theft that can lead to health care fraud: Don’t share or confirm your Medicare or Social Security number with anyone who contacts you by telephone, email, or in person, unless you’ve given them permission in advance. Medicare will NEVER contact you (unless you ask them ...
Can Medicare contact you?
Medicare will NEVER contact you (unless you ask them to) to ask for your Medicare number or other personal information or to send you a new card. Medicare already has your information. Don’t ever let anyone borrow or pay to use your Medicare number.
New Social Security ID Cards No Longer Have Your Social Security Number!
When I began working in the insurance industry over a decade ago it was common place to see Social Security Numbers printed on health insurance cards, drivers licenses, car insurance documents, and many other unsecured locations.
Expert Tips to Identity Thieves and Protect Your Personal Information
Just as you are now learning about this transition that Medicare will make over the course of 2018 you can also bet that there are less then honest people out there in world who are also hearing the same information and planning to take advantage of this transition. Here are a few tips to protect yourself and your personal information:
Protect the New Card Number
People with Medicare should guard their new card like it is a credit card and only give their Medicare Number to people they know should have it.
10 Things to Remember About New Medicare Cards
Make note of these facts to help ensure a smooth transition to your new card.
Protect your Medicare Number like a credit card
Only give personal information, like your Medicare Number, to health care providers, your insurance companies or health plans (and their licensed agents or brokers), or people you trust that work with Medicare, like your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) A state program that gets money from the federal government to give free local health insurance counseling to people with Medicare. ..
Carrying your card
You’ll need the information on your Medicare card to join a Medicare health or drug plan or buy Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap), Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) An insurance policy you can buy to help lower your share of certain costs for Part A and Part B services (Original Medicare). so keep your Medicare card in a safe place.
How do you get another Medicare card?
My card is lost or damaged — Log into (or create) your Medicare account to print an official copy of your Medicare card. You can also call us at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to order a replacement card. TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048.
