Chester County Medicine Summer 2018 - 26

www.CHESTERCMS.org

10 Things
to Know
about Your

New
Medicare
Card

oon, new Medicare cards will be mailed to the nearly 60 million people who receive
Medicare benefits across America. The main reason for new Medicare cards is to
replace the Social Security number with a new Medicare Beneficiary Identifier, or
"Medicare Number" for short. This change will help protect your identity and reduce
medical and financial fraud.
The Medicare Number is a randomly generated 11 character number, which will be
created automatically. You do not need to do anything or pay anyone to get your new
card.
Medicare will mail your new card at no cost to the address you have on file with the
Social Security Administration.
Beneficiaries in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia are among the first states to receive new Medicare cards. Within the
next 12 months, the remaining states will see beneficiaries receive their new cards.
Here are ten things to remember about this process:
1. Mailing takes time: Your card may arrive at a different time than your friend's
or neighbor's.
2. 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.
3. Guard your card: Only give your new Medicare Number to doctors,
pharmacists, other health care providers, or their staff, your insurers, or people
you trust to work with Medicare on your behalf.
4. Your Medicare Number is unique: Your card has a new number instead of
your Social Security Number. This number is unique to you.
5. Your new card is paper, not plastic: 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.
6. Keep your new card with you: Carry your new card and, should they request
it, show it to your health care providers when you need care.
7. Your doctor knows it's coming: Doctors, other health care facilities, and
providers will ask for your new Medicare card, if they need to see it, when
you need care.
8. You can find your number: If you forget your new card, your doctor or other
health care provider, or their staff, may be able to look up your Medicare Number
online.
9. 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.

BY MATT BAKER, REGION III
DIRECTOR,
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
AND HUMAN SERVICES

10. Help is available: If you don't get your new Medicare card by April 2019, call
1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048.
Lastly, protect your card. When you get your new Medicare card, keep it safe like
you would any other health insurance or credit card. While removing the Social Security
number reduces many types of identity theft, you will still want to protect your new card
because ID theft thieves potentially could use it to attempt to get medical services.

For more information, go to https://www.medicare.gov/newcard.

26 CHESTER COUNT Y Medicine | SUMMER 2018

http://chestercms.org/index.html https://www.medicare.gov/newcard

Chester County Medicine Summer 2018

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Chester County Medicine Summer 2018