New Medicare cards coming soon

Starting in April 2018, people with Medicare will receive new insurance cards displaying a unique Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) in place of the current Health Insurance Claim Number (HICN), which to date was the Medicare recipient’s social security number.

This change will help protect against identity theft and illegal use of Medicare benefits.

Mailing new cards to all people with Medicare is a big job. If you have Medicare, you can expect to receive your new card anytime between April 2018 and April 2019. Please note that your card may show up at a different time than your neighbor’s.You should continue using your current card until the new card arrives. After receiving the new card, you may start using it immediately. Be sure to destroy the old card in a way that does not allow the information to be retrieved (ie: shred it).

Avoid scams:

• Your new card is free; never pay anyone or any organization for your new card.

• Medicare will never call and ask for your information; do not give your personal information to anyone who calls.

• The new Medicare numbers won’t change benefits; it is a scam if anyone threatens a change in your benefits.

Finally, make sure your mailing address is current. To correct your address, contact Social Security at ssa.gov/myaccount or 800- 772-1213. TTY, call 800-325-0778.