The new Medicare card is black, white, and blue, and it contains your full name, your new Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI), and the date in which your Medicare Part A and B coverage starts. Here is a sample of what the new Medicare card looks like: This new card is different from the old one in the following ways:
Full Answer
What's new with Medicare cards in 2018?
Between April 2018 and April 2019, the Centers for Medicare & Medicare Services (CMS) mailed out newly designed Medicare cards to all enrolled beneficiaries. The original card was modified to make it more secure and to protect the identity of all Medicare beneficiaries from fraudulent use.
What does the new Medicare card look like?
The new Medicare card is black, white, and blue, and it contains your full name, your new Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI), and the date in which your Medicare Part A and B coverage starts. Here is a sample of what the new Medicare card looks like:
When do I get my new Medicare card?
New Medicare cards are sent out three months before the month of a person’s 65th birthday. If you are waiting to get your Medicare benefits card but have not received it before your 65th birthday, be sure to contact your local Social Security Administration office or call a local CMS office. What does the new Medicare card look like?
Do the new Medicare cards affect my benefits?
Beginning in 2020, you'll have to use your new card and identification number in order to submit Medicare claims. Do the new cards affect my Medicare benefits? Nothing about your Medicare eligibility will change as a result of the new cards.
Can I still use my old Medicare card?
You can still use your old card to get your care covered until January 1, 2020. However, if you have not received your new card, you should call 1-800-MEDICARE (633-4227) and speak to a representative.
Has the Medicare card changed?
Cards will be mailed between April 2018 – April 2019 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 used for your Medicare coverage. The new card won't change your coverage or benefits.
Does Medicare issue a new card every year?
Healthcare providers use the Medicare number on the card to bill services. Generally, a person does not have to renew their Medicare card each year, as it will automatically renew. If a card is lost, stolen, or damaged people can get a new card at no cost.
What do Medicare ID numbers look like?
On a Medicare card, an MBI will appear similar to this: 1EG4-TE5-MK73. The second, fifth, eighth, and ninth characters are always letters while the first, fourth, seventh, tenth, and eleventh characters are always numbers. You can visit cms.gov for more information on the format of an MBI.
Is there a new black and white Medicare card?
Scammers falsely allege Medicare is issuing new plastic or metal Medicare cards or black and white Covid-19 Medicare cards. The scammers state that in order to get your new card, you need to provide personal identifying information such as your Medicare number, birth date or even financial account numbers.
Is there a new Medicare card with a chip?
Not with a chip. There are NO NEW Medicare Cards. If you receive a call from someone who tells you they are with Medicare, hang up. Hang up even if your caller ID shows the call is from Medicare.
Did not receive new Medicare card?
If you don't get your card, you can ask for a new one by: using your Medicare online account through myGov. the Express Plus Medicare mobile app. calling the Medicare program.
Is Medicare changing their cards for 2022?
15 through Dec. 7, the more than 63 million Medicare beneficiaries can pick a new Medicare Part D drug plan, a new Medicare Advantage plan, or switch from Original Medicare into a Medicare Advantage plan or vice versa. Any coverage changes made during this period will go into effect Jan. 1, 2022.
Is it OK to laminate your Medicare card?
You'll definitely want to take good care of your Medicare card – don't lose track of it, and keep it in good condition. However, the Social Security Administration doesn't recommend laminating important identification cards because the plastic coating may interfere with the card's security features.
What is the new Medicare ID number?
Medicare Beneficiary IdentifierThe Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) developed a new number called the Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI), which replaces the SSN-based Health Insurance Claim Number (HICN) on the Medicare card. CMS began mailing the new Medicare cards in April 2018.
When did the Medicare cards change?
April 2018Medicare is mailing new Medicare cards starting in April 2018.
When did Medicare ID numbers change?
New Medicare ID System Goes Fully Operational on January 1, 2020.
What is the new Medicare card?
The new Medicare card is black, white, and blue, and it contains your full name, your new Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI), and the date in which your Medicare Part A and B coverage starts . Here is a sample of what the new Medicare card looks like: This new card is different from the old one in the following ways: ...
When will Medicare cards be sent?
If you haven’t already heard, everyone will be getting new Medicare cards in the mail! The new Medicare cards are scheduled to be sent from April 2018-April 2019. Until now, your social security number has been on your Medicare card, and a lot of people didn’t like this – it’s certainly a security threat. A Medicare card is easy to lose, and ...
What to do if someone asks for my Medicare card?
If anyone else asks for your Medicare card or your personal Medicare information, ignore the request and immediately call Medicare (1-800-MEDICARE) if you feel you were speaking with a potential scammer.
What is the number to call Medicare if you don't share your information?
Also, if anyone calls and asks for money or threatens to cancel your health benefits if you don’t share your personal information, immediately hang up and call Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
Can you laminate Medicare cards?
A Medicare representative explained to us that you can laminate them, but that can make it difficult for providers to read (particularly the numbers on the card). Alternatively, you can purchase a transparent business card holder that protects your card, but is easily removable like this one from Amazon.
What to know about new Medicare card?
Here are 10 things to know about your new Medicare card. Mailing takes time:Your card may arrive at a different time than your friend’s or neighbor’s. Destroy your old Medicare card:Once you get your new Medicare card, destroy your old Medicare card and start using your new card right away.
When will Medicare cards be available?
Envelope Front Envelope Back. Look for your new Medicare card starting in April 2018 . Medicare will mail new Medicare cards with new Medicare numbers from April 2018 through April 2019. Once you receive your new card, you can use it at your tribal health care provider or wherever you receive care.
What is the main card for Medicare?
Keep your Medicare Advantage Card:If you’re in a Medicare Advantage Plan (like an health maintenance organization or preferred provider organization), your Medicare Advantage Plan ID card is your main card for Medicare – you should keep and use this card whenever you need care.
Is Medicare card unique?
Your Medicare Number is unique:Your card has a new number instead of your Social Security Number. This new number is unique to you. Your new card is paper:Paper cards are easier for many providers to use and copy, and they save taxpayers a lot of money. Plus, you can print your own replacement card if you need one.
What is a Medicare Card
When you enroll in Medicare for the first time, you’ll receive a red, white, and blue Medicare card in the mail. If you are automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A, you will receive your plastic Medicare card about three months before your 65th birthday so that you will already have it when your plan becomes active.
New Medicare Cards 2018
In 2017, CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) decided to launch a new version of the red, white, and blue Medicare card. The big change is that instead of having your Social Security number plastered on your card, you’ll be assigned a Medicare number.
Avoiding Medicare Card Scams
Scammers might try to get your Medicare number from you. Remember that Medicare will never call and ask you to verify your number – they already have that information. If someone calls you and asks for your Medicare number, and you weren’t expecting them to call, do not give it to them.
When will Medicare cards be mailed?
The cards for the first two groups of states are set to be mailed between April and June.
How long is the Medicare card identifier?
The Medicare Beneficiary Identifier is 11 characters long and can include both numbers and capital letters. The identifiers will be randomly chosen and therefore be clearly different from Social Security numbers, so you shouldn't expect to see all or part of your Social Security number appear in the identifier on your new Medicare card.
Why is Medicare important?
Medicare provides essential support for millions of older Americans in protecting their health. Those who choose to join Medicare receive a card that identifies them as Medicare participants, and for decades, the design of the Medicare card stayed the same. Recently, concerns about the potential for fraud and identity theft led ...
When will Medicare transition to Social Security?
CMS has established a 21-month transition period during which time participants can use either their new Medicare Beneficiary Identifier or their old Social Security-based Health Insurance Claim Number. The period is expected to run through the end of 2019.
What happens if someone loses their Medicare card?
Therefore, when someone's card is lost or stolen, it not only threatens to create problems with Medicare-related fraud, but also risks broader financial identity theft.
When will Medicare remove Social Security numbers?
Congressional legislation passed in 2015 required CMS to remove Social Security numbers from Medicare cards by April 2019. Instead, the current Health Insurance Claim Number -- which is identical to one's Social Security number -- will get replaced by the new Medicare Beneficiary Identifier.
What to do once you get your new card?
Moreover, once you get your new card, protect it in the same way that you would a Social Security card, driver's license, passport, or other primary identification documents. That's a critical step to avoid fraud going forward.
How to protect your SSN when you get a new Medicare card?
When you’ve received your new Medicare card, take these steps to protect your information and identity: Destroy your old Medicare card right away. Make sure you destroy your old card to help protect your SSN and other personal information. Start using your new Medicare card.
Can Medicare contact you uninvited?
Medicare will never contact you uninvited to ask for your personal information. For more information about your new Medicare card, visit Medicare.gov/NewCard. You can also visit Medicare.gov for tips to prevent Medicare fraud. Tags: Medicare, my Social Security account, Social Security benefits, SSN. See Comments.
Does Medicare send new cards?
Did you know that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is sending new cards with new Medicare numbers to everyone with 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. 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! If you need to update your address, use your personal my Social Security account.
Does Medicare automatically mail a new card?
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!
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.
