Watch for New Medicare Cards

By: Boone County Health Center

Medicare patients should watch their mail for new Medicare cards coming soon.

Social Security Numbers (SSNs) will not be on the new cards. Instead, each Medicare patient has been given a new Medicare number that is unique to them. This number will be on the card.

“Medicare will automatically send out new cards in the mail to all those who already have Medicare,” said Boone County Health Center Patient Access Supervisor Sara Meyer. “Once a patient gets their new card, they should shred their old one and bring the new card to their next health care visit.”

SSNs were left off the new Medicare cards to help protect patient identity. Medicare patients should watch out for scams and know that Medicare will never call patients and ask for private or personal information.

If someone calls and asks for things like an up-to-date Medicare Number, asks for money, or threatens to cancel Medicare, patients should hang up and call Medicare at 1-800-633-4227.

For more about the new Medicare cards, visit www.Medicare.gov/NewCard.

Medicare patients can keep using their old card until their new one comes in the mail.