New Traditional Medicare Cards To Be Issued Between April 2018 and April 2019 – Be On The Look Out For Scams

With the goal of protecting patient’s identity, Medicare will automatically mail new Medicare cards, free of charge, between April 2018 and April 2019. Your new card will have a new Medicare Number that’s unique to you, instead of your Social Security Number.

The new Medicare card will not change your Medicare coverage or benefits. However, you will need to take your new Medicare card to your doctor’s appointment and let them update your Medicare Number on your chart.

Unfortunately, the potential for scams is high. Please be aware of anyone calling or asking for your current Medicare Number, which is the same as your Social Security Number, or for other personal information by contacting you about your new Medicare Card. Scam artists often claim to be from Medicare and use various scams to get your Medicare Number. For example, they may ask you to confirm your Medicare Number or Social Security Number so they can send you a new card, tell you that there’s a charge for your new card and they need to verify personal information, or threaten to cancel your health benefits if you don’t share your Medicare Number or personal information.

If someone ever calls you and asks for your Medicare Number or other personal information, hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to report the issue. When you receive a new card in the mail, please bring it into the clinic and we will update your insurance information on file.