Your red-white-and-blue paper Medicare card is similar to other health insurance cards you may have had in the past. It acts as proof that you have Medicare health insurance, and it provides the starting date (s) of your coverage. Did You Know? A red-white-and-blue paper Medicare card is mailed to adults who are turning 65 and enrolled in Medicare.
Full Answer
What is a Medicare card and what does it do?
You use your Medicare card when:
- making a Medicare claim for a paid or unpaid doctor's account
- visiting a doctor who bulk bills
- receiving treatment as a public patient in a public hospital
- filling a Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) prescription at a pharmacy
Why have I not received my Medicare card?
It's sent to people who:
- Go to Social Security to sign up for Medicare
- First sign up for Social Security retirement benefits (at age 65 or older)
- Automatically get Medicare with less than 3 months before coverage starts (usually for people under age 65 with certain disabilities)
Are they sending out new Medicare cards?
You’re getting a new Medicare card! Between April 2018 and April 2019, we’ll be removing Social Security numbers from Medicare cards and mailing each person a new card. This will help keep your information more secure and help protect your identity. You’ll get a new Medicare Number that’s unique to you, and it will only be
When will I get my Medicare card?
You should receive your Medicare card in the mail in the 25th month after you receive your first Social Security check. For individuals with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s disease), you will automatically be enrolled in Medicare the same month that your disability benefits begin.
Is Medicare card red white and blue?
Key Takeaways. Medicare will send you a red, white and blue card in the mail. This card will include your unique Medicare number and the start date of your Parts A and/or B benefits. If you are enrolled in Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, Medigap or Part D prescription drug plan, you will receive separate cards.
What is the Medicare blue and white card for?
Everyone who enrolls in Medicare receives a red, white, and blue Medicare card. This card lists your name and the dates that your Original Medicare hospital insurance (Part A) and medical insurance (Part B) began. It will also show your Medicare number, which serves as an identification number in the Medicare system.
What is a red Medicard?
Your red, white and blue Medicare card will arrive in the mail after you enroll in Medicare. A Medicare card shows that you have Medicare health insurance and whether you have Part A or Part B coverage, or both. It also shows the date your coverage starts.
What color S is a Medicare card?
Medicare ID – Traditional Medicare The card has three stripes – red, white, and blue – at the top and the logo of the Department of Health & Human Services on the front. It shows your name, gender, Medicare ID number (important), and your coverage: Part A and/or Part B. It also shows the date your coverage begins.
What is the new Medicare ID format?
MBI will contain Numbers and letters (Uppercase), that will use 0 to 9 numbers and all letters from A to Z, they have excluded S,L,O,I,B and Z so that will help all characters to easier to read. The MBI's 2nd, 5th, 8th, and 9th characters will always be a letter. Characters 1, 4, 7, 10, and 11 will always be a number.
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.
What are the 4 types of Medicare?
There are four parts of Medicare: Part A, Part B, Part C, and Part D.Part A provides inpatient/hospital coverage.Part B provides outpatient/medical coverage.Part C offers an alternate way to receive your Medicare benefits (see below for more information).Part D provides prescription drug coverage.
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.
What is Medicare A and B?
Part A (Hospital Insurance): Helps cover inpatient care in hospitals, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care, and home health care. Part B (Medical Insurance): Helps cover: Services from doctors and other health care providers. Outpatient care.
Is there a black and white Medicare card?
The new Medicare card will still be white, with red, blue, and black print, but it will sport a different design, as shown in the samples below from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services website. The new card will be made of paper, not plastic.
How many Medicare cards can you be on?
2 different Medicare cardsKeep in mind, you can only be on 2 different Medicare cards at the same time. If you choose to leave a card and you're the contact person, we'll assign a new contact person for the card.
Are new plastic Medicare cards being issued?
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.
What 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.
Does Social Security automatically send you a Medicare card?
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!
Are new plastic Medicare cards being issued?
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.
At what age do you get your own Medicare card?
15 or olderYou can get your own Medicare card and number if you're 15 or older and enrolled in Medicare.
What You Need to Know About The New Medicare Cards
On May 30, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released information on the new Medicare cards that would be sent out beginning nex...
Who Can Apply For A Medicare Card?
To qualify for any type of federal Medicare coverage plan, you must be a United States citizen or legal United States resident of five years or mor...
Steps to Apply For A Medicare Card
Step 1. Begin by going to the Social Security website and apply online by clicking on “Medicare,” located at the top of the page headings (topics t...
How Do I Replace My Medicare Card?
Before applying for a replacement card for a lost or stolen Medicare card, be certain to have your personal information ready. This includes your n...
What Your Medicare Card Should contain
When you receive your Medicare card, there a few things you should do right away. The first of which is to review the information on the card for i...
What Your Medicare Card Looks Like
Once you have been deemed qualified to receive Medicare benefits, you will be issued a red, white and blue (paper) card, identifying you as a Medic...
What The Letters on The Medicare Card Signify
The letter A follows the Medicare claim number, which is also your Social Security number. This signifies that you have worked and made payments in...
Information Regarding Medicare Cards For A Disabled Person Or Spouse
If you are a disabled person, the letters HA will appear after your Social Security number. If you are married to a disabled person, you are entitl...
Government Employees and Medicare
A government employee who is not receiving Social Security and who qualifies to receive Medicare will have the letters TA after their Social Securi...
Spousal Beneficiaries and Medicare
If you have never worked, you will still qualify for Medicare, provided that your spouse has met the requirements to receive Medicare benefits. In...
What do the letters on my Medicare card mean?
What do the letters on your Medicare card mean? The Medicare number displayed on Medicare cards (known as an MBI, or Medicare Beneficiary Identifier) is 11 characters long: The 2nd, 5th, 8th and 9th characters are always a letter, and the 3rd and 6th characters are sometimes a letter. All other characters will be numbers, and the letters S, L, O, ...
What is Medicare Part B?
Medicare Part B is medical insurance and provides coverage for outpatient doctor’s appointments and medical devices. Medicare Part C, also known as Medicare Advantage, provides coverage for everything found in Part A and Part B through one plan provided by a private insurer.
What is Medicare Supplement Insurance?
Medicare Supplement Insurance, also called Medigap, uses a letter system to identify its plans. Medicare Supplement Insurance is used in conjunction with Part A and Part B of Medicare to provide coverage for certain out-of-pocket expenses like some Medicare deductibles and coinsurance.
What is the meaning of MBI?
All other characters will be numbers, and the letters S, L, O, I, B and Z will never be used. The MBI is randomly generated and is “non-intelligent,” which means it contains no hidden or special meaning and is therefore more difficult for someone to use to steal your identity or commit fraud.
Does Medicare cover dental insurance?
Many Medicare Advantage plans may also cover additional benefits not covered by Part A and Part B, such as prescription drugs, dental, vision, hearing, wellness programs like SilverSneakers and more. Medicare Part D provides coverage exclusively for prescription drugs.
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.
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 ...
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.
When will Medicare cards be released?
The New Cards. According to the CMS, the government plans to begin mailing new cards to Medicare recipients in April 2018. All beneficiaries should receive the updated cards by April 2019. The 12-month period will also allow healthcare providers to prepare for the switch and make any necessary changes to their systems.
How to apply for Medicare card?
Step 1. Begin by going to the Social Security website and apply online by clicking on “Medicare,” located at the top of the page headings (topics to choose from). A new page will appear, and you will then click the “Apply for Medicare Benefits” link. Step 2.
How does Medicare fraud work?
Medicare is issuing new cards to cut down on fraud, but scammers continually devise new tactics to wreak havoc on the lives of the elderly. As a beneficiary, you might be contacted by people over the phone or over the internet posing as government agencies requiring personal information. Some of the more common tactics used include: 1 Requesting that cardholders confirm or verify their Medicare or social security information. Criminals often pretend an error was made. They insist they need the personal information to make the correction and to issue a new card; 2 Convincing Medicare beneficiaries that there is a fee for obtaining a new card and their personal information is required; and 3 Threatening cardholders with a cancellation of health benefits if they do not cooperate by providing the requested information.
How to contact Medicare representative?
This is the number for you to contact a Medicare Health Insurance representative. Call Medicare Health Insurance at (800) Medicare (633-4227). And finally, at the bottom of the card will be a signature line. If all the information on your card is correct, be certain to sign your name on the signature line indicated.
How long does it take to get a replacement Medicare card?
In either application site or location, it will take about 30 days for you to receive your new replacement card by United States mail.
What is a social security number?
A social security number provides access to a multitude of personal information, which gives hackers and thieves the opportunity to commit crimes of identity theft. Old Medicare cards featured members’ social security numbers, allowing criminals easy access to this information when the cards were sent via mail or presented at places like physicians’ offices, pharmacies or other provider agencies.
What is ESRD in Medicare?
Railroad Retirement Board benefits. Have been diagnosed with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) The majority of people qualify for Part A of Medicare automatically (from working and paying into Social Security). Part B coverage requires you pay a premium for each month’s coverage and has optional plans available.
What does "A" mean in Medicare?
“A” means you are a retired wage earner and the primary claimant. Typically, you paid into the Medicare system during your working years over a period of at least 40 quarters.
What is the suffix C in Medicare?
“C” indicates you are the child of a primary claimant. Numerical suffixes following “C” indicate which child you are in relation to the primary claimant. If you are the first child, your suffix is C1; if you are the second child, your suffix is C2; if you are the third child, your suffix is C3; and so on. In all, numerical suffixes following C go all the way to number 9, depending on the order of birth of siblings. If your suffix code is anything in the “C” category, your primary claimant parent’s Social Security Number, and not your own, will constitute the first nine numbers of your Medicare Claim Number.
What does E mean in Social Security?
“E” alone indicates you are the widowed mother of a primary claimant. Other suffixes in the “E” category include E1 for the surviving divorced mother of a primary claimant; E2 for the second widowed mother of a primary claimant; E3 for the second divorced mother of the primary claimant; E4 for the primary claimant’s widowed father; and E5 for the primary claimant’s surviving divorced father. “E” may be a particularly complicated category given these convoluted variations. In all cases, the primary claimant’s Social Security Number will constitute the first nine digits of a Code “E” claimant’s Medicare number.
What does a new Medicare card look like?
The new Medicare card will look similar to your old one , but there are differences. The new card will still be red, white, and blue, but will show a unique identification number instead of your Social Security number. Your effective dates for Part A and/or Part B will still be printed on the front of the card.
Why is Medicare card made of paper?
The new Medicare card is made of paper to make it easier for medical providers to use and copy. Many Medicare recipients have wondered if they can do something to protect it from damage. Pulling your card in and out of your wallet can certainly take its toll. The paper may start to shred and fade over time.
When will Medicare cards be released?
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that new Medicare cards would be delivered to all Medicare recipients between April 2018 and April 2019. A new identification card will be delivered to anyone who receives Medicare benefits.
Do you have to update your address for Medicare?
New Medicare cards are being sent out automatically to everyone who receives Medicare benefits. You do not have to do anything as long as your address is current. If you need to update your address, visit your MySocialSecurity account.
Can you laminate a Social Security card?
The paper may start to shred and fade over time. Although it is not illegal to laminate your card , the Social Security administration advises against it. Laminating the card may prevent built-in security features of the card from being recognized. Instead, consider buying a plastic card holder to keep it intact.
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.