Your Medicare card is red, white, and blue, and it contains your name and your Medicare ID number. Note that your card will not contain your or your spouse’s Social Security Number; this change was implemented ato help keep that important detail under wraps.
What information is on a Medicare card?
Besides your full name, your Medicare card includes your Medicare number as well as important information about the health insurance coverage to which you are entitled. This includes: 2 Medicare number —This is one of the most important pieces of information on your Medicare card.
How do I Use my Medicare card?
If you are enrolled in Original Medicare, you’ll use your Medicare card when you’re at the doctor’s office or in the hospital. (If you are enrolled in an MA plan, you’ll use your MA card). Billing specialists and providers will ask to see your card so they know whom to bill. How Do You Get Your Medicare Card?
What is a Medicare drug plan card?
If you have a Medicare drug plan or supplemental coverage, carry that plan card with you too. A type of Medicare-approved health plan from a private company that you can choose to cover most of your Part A and Part B benefits instead of Original Medicare.
What is on a red-white-and-blue Medicare card?
A red-white-and-blue paper Medicare card is mailed to adults who are turning 65 and enrolled in Medicare. What Information Is on Your Medicare Card? Besides your full name, your Medicare card includes your Medicare number as well as important information about the health insurance coverage to which you are entitled.
What does a Medicare number consist of?
11 charactersA Medicare MBI number contains 11 characters, which are randomly generated without underlying meaning. The MBI number is a string of numbers and upper-case letters, which will include an arbitrary combination of digits (1 through 9) and any letters in the alphabet except B, I, L, O, S, and Z.
What information is on the back of a Medicare card?
Your card will come in a white envelope from the Department of Health and Human Services (see example on the right). The back of the envelope will say, “Official information from Medicare.” Medicare will mail new Medicare cards with new Medicare numbers from April 2018 through April 2019.
What is my Medicare member ID?
Member Medicare ID access Members can check their Medicare ID number by signing into myMedicare.gov. If a member doesn't have a myMedicare.gov account yet, they can 'create an account' and follow the instructions. For questions, members can call 1-800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227 TTY 877-486-2048).
What letters are not in Medicare ID?
We use numbers 1-9 and all letters from A to Z, except for S, L, O, I, B, and Z. If you use lowercase letters, our system will convert them to uppercase letters.
Is your Medicare number your Social Security number?
Your card has a Medicare Number that's unique to you — it's not your Social Security Number. This helps protect your identity. The card shows: You have Medicare Part A (listed as HOSPITAL), Part B (listed as MEDICAL), or both.
How do you read a Medicare card?
Your 10 digit Medicare Card Number. Your single digit Medicare Reference Number....ExampleThe Card Number is 1234567890 for the entire family.John Smith's Individual Reference Number (IRN) is 1.Helen Smith's IRN is 2.James Smith's IRN is 3.Jessica Smith's IRN is 4.
How many digits is Medicare number?
11 charactersHow many characters will the MBI have? The MBI has 11 characters, like the Health Insurance Claim Number (HICN), which can have up to 11. Will the MBI's characters have any meaning? Each MBI is randomly generated.
Do you automatically get a Medicare card when you turn 65?
You should receive your Medicare card in the mail three months before your 65th birthday. If you are NOT receiving benefits from Social Security or the RRB at least four months before you turn 65, you will need to sign up with Social Security to get Parts A and B.
Does Medicare automatically send you a card?
You should automatically receive your Medicare card three months before your 65th birthday. You will automatically be enrolled in Medicare after 24 months and should receive your Medicare card in the 25th month.
What is 11 digit Medicare number?
A complete Medicare number requires 11 digits in total. This includes your 10-digit Medicare number on your card followed by the unique reference number that appears next to your name. Please take extra care when entering you Medicare Number, it is extremely important to ensure it is 100% correct.
What is the suffix on a Medicare card?
The second part of the claim number is the suffix. It is usually a letter, which may or may not be followed by a digit. The suffix indicates the type of benefits the claimant receives.
When and how can I apply for my Medicare ID Card?
Applying for your new Medicare Card is the same as enrolling in Medicare. If you’re an American citizen, or have lived in the country legally for m...
What if I have Medicare Advantage or Prescription Part D?
You will receive a Medicare Card even if you have separate cards for your Medicare Advantage and/or Medicare Prescription Plan (Part D). While you...
When do I receive my Medicare ID Card?
When you receive your Medicare Card depends on how you signed up.
Who do I contact if my Medicare ID Card is lost or stolen?
The Social Security Administration handles Medicare Card replacements. Consumers can contact the agency for a replacement in several ways. They inc...
What is “mySocialSecurity” account?
The Social Security Administration designed the mySocialSecurity website as an online portal to access and change your personal information. Now, b...
Why does my Medicare ID Card come from Social Security and not Medicare?
Your card comes from Social Security because that’s the department that processes Original Medicare (Parts A and B) applications. Original Medicare...
Do I automatically receive a Medicare ID Card if I start receiving social security retirement benefi...
You will receive a Medicare Card once you’ve received disability payments from Social Security for 24 months. [i]
Should my social security number be displayed on my Medicare ID Card?
Your Medicare identification number should not show your social security number. If you’ve been enrolled in Medicare for a few years and your membe...
What is included in my Medicare card?
Besides your full name, your Medicare card includes your Medicare number as well as important information about the health insurance coverage to which you are entitled. This includes: 2. Medicare number —This is one of the most important pieces of information on your Medicare card. It’s what the billing department will use when it submits ...
What is a red white and blue Medicare card?
It acts as proof that you have Medicare health insurance, and it provides the starting date (s) of your coverage.
How long does it take to get a replacement Medicare card?
According to the Health and Human Services Department, it can take about 30 days for your replacement card to arrive in the mail.
What happens if you lose your Medicare number?
If it is lost or stolen and gets into the wrong hands, you could be the victim of identity theft. Your personal information could be used fraudulently to obtain medical care or submit billing to Medicare in your name. Today, your Medicare number is no longer your SSN.
What is Part A in Medicare?
Part A —If you have Part A, labeled HOSPITAL, you are entitled to care in a hospital or skilled nursing facility, hospice care and home healthcare. The date your coverage begins is also included. 4. Part B —If you have Part B, labeled MEDICAL, you are entitled to medical care and preventive services.
Where to keep a medical card if you don't want to go to the doctor?
If you don’t want to carry the card with you when you’re not going to the doctor, you should keep it in a safe place at home, such as a locked desk drawer or a fireproof safe. Be sure to put it back in the same place every time once you’re done using it.
Do you need a separate ID card for Medicare?
If you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage (MA) Plan, you will receive a separate ID card. If your plan covers prescription drugs, your MA card will include that information too. You should use your MA card as your primary Medicare card, but you should still keep your Medicare card in a safe place.
Key Takeaways
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) no longer includes member-based social security numbers (HICN) on ID cards. If your card doesn’t have the Medicare Billing Identifier (MBI) listed, order a new card.
When and how can I apply for my Medicare ID Card?
Applying for your new Medicare Card is the same as enrolling in Medicare. If you’re an American citizen, or have lived in the country legally for more than five years, you’re eligible to sign up for Medicare if you:
Who do I contact if my Medicare ID Card is lost or stolen?
The Social Security Administration handles Medicare Card replacements. Consumers can contact the agency for a replacement in several ways. They include:
FAQs
Your card comes from Social Security because that’s the department that processes Original Medicare (Parts A and B) applications. Original Medicare is tied closely to how much income you made before turning 65, and Social Security helps determine whether you’re eligible. Medicare is operated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
How many digits are on Medicare card?
Medicare is replacing the old cards with new identification cards that contain an 11-digit number that’s unique to each of the 60 million beneficiaries. Congress mandated this change to make the Medicare cards more secure and protect people against identity fraud.
What to do when you get a new Medicare card?
When you get your new card, the envelope will include a letter directing you to destroy your old Medicare identification. Because the old card includes your Social Security number, it might be a good idea to shred it. The letter also says that you can start using your new identification right away and that none of your benefits will change.
What is the number to call for Medicare?
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has included a Spanish-language version of the letter in the mailing and provided a notice in 15 languages that directs people to call Medicare at 800-633-4227 if they have questions about the new card.
Do you need a Medicare Advantage card to get a Part D card?
Beneficiaries who are covered under a Medicare Advantage plan will still need to use that card when getting medical services. The same is true for those who get their medications through a Part D prescription drug plan. All new enrollees are automatically receiving the new card.
