Make Changes To Your Medicare Plan Coverage During The Right Time Of Year
One especially useful time to review your Medicare coverage is during the fall Annual Enrollment Period, or AEP.
The Medicare AEP lasts from every year. During this time, Medicare beneficiaries may do any of the following:
- Change from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan
- Change from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare
- Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another
- Enroll in or drop Medicare Part D coverage
- Switch from one Part D plan to another
Outside of AEP, your opportunities to make changes to your Medicare plan can be limited.
Another time you may be able to change your Medicare plan include:
- Special Enrollment PeriodsYou could potentially qualify for a Special Enrollment Period at any time throughout the year, if you meet one of a set of certain circumstances. This can include moving out of the area serviced by your current plan, losing your current plan because it is no longer offered in your area, and a number of other certain circumstances.
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Does Private Medicare Have Group Numbers
Original Medicare is not group coverage and therefore has no corresponding group number. But private Medicare plans may have a group number associated with the plan.
Private Medicare insurance includes:
- Medicare Part C. These plans provide all the same benefits as Medicare Part A and Part B while also typically offering some additional coverage for things not found in Original Medicare like dental, vision, prescription drugs and more.
- Medicare Part D. Medicare Part D provides coverage for prescription medications, which is a benefit not covered by Original Medicare.
- Medicare Supplement Insurance. Medicare Supplement Insurance works alongside your Original Medicare coverage by picking up the cost of certain deductibles, copayments, coinsurance and other out-of-pocket costs associated with Medicare Part A and Part B.
Members of these plans may see a group number on their card that corresponds with their coverage. Instead of being grouped by company as you might in an employer-sponsored plan, beneficiaries of private Medicare plans may be grouped by area and plan type.
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How Do I Find My Medicare Number If Im A New Beneficiary
New to Medicare? Your Social Security account can also provide your Medicare number online. This is true even if you havent started to receive any Social Security benefit yet.
You can also order a replacement card in your online SSA account. In your account, you will select the replacement documents tab to find this option.
It takes 30 days on average to receive your replacement card in the mail. Be sure to double-check your mailing address on file with Social Security to ensure proper delivery.
Need more help? Phone numbers and other Medicare resources
For your Medicare number, call 1-800-MEDICARE to reach the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services .
Your local Medicare pro is also a great resource and can help get you enrolled in Medicare.
In addition to helping you compare coverage and rates for Medicare plans like Medicare Supplement insurance or a Medicare Advantage plan we can also help you with the basics. We gather information for you, advocate on your behalf, help you fill out the correct forms, answer questions, and so much more.
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Where Can I Find My Medicare Number
The red, white, and blue Medicare card has your Medicare number on it.
The Medicare Beneficiary Identifier is also visible on paperwork and documents from the Social Security
Administration and Medicare. Otherwise, you would have to visit a Social Security Administration or Medicare office in your area. Alternatively, you can call Medicare and request a new Medicare card after correctly establishing your
identification.
Because your Medicare number is your protected health information, it is not readily available. As
a result, Medicare allows you to create an online account to view and print your Medicare card to obtain
the required information.
When Can I Sign Up For Medicare
- 3 months before the month you turn 65
- The month you turn 65
- 3 months after the month you turn 65
To avoid a gap in coverage, you should enroll in Medicare prior to the month you turn 65. In other words, if you wait until the month you turn 65 to enroll, your Medicare coverage may be delayed. Furthermore, if you do not sign up for Medicare Part B when you are first eligible, you may have to pay a late enrollment penalty. Learn when to enroll in Medicare Part B.
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Finding My Number Online
If you want to look up your Medicare number online, you can do this by accessing your MyMedicare account. You will need to make an account at mymedicare.gov to access your information. You can also use this website to print out a copy of your card. This is useful if youve lost your Medicare card and are waiting on a new one, but still, need to use your information in the meantime.
Using Your Medicare Card
Youll need to have your Medicare card with you any time you have any medical-related visits or services. This is true even if you have Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage or Medigap supplemental insurance.
Your regular doctor may make a copy of your card on your first visit so they will have it readily available on file. But pharmacies, testing labs, some doctors and other health care providers will require you to show it on each visit.
Be sure to let your doctor or other health care provider know if youve received a replacement or updated Medicare card. They will need the new information.
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What Is My Medicare Number
Your Medicare Number is the 11 digit code on the front of your red, white, and blue Medicare card that Medicare uses to identify you. To help keep your personal information safe, your Medicare Number is no longer the same as your Social Security Number. Your Medicare Number is a unique combination of 11 letters and numbers.
If Youre New To Medicare
Youll have to manually apply for Medicare if:
- You live in Puerto Rico. You may get automatically enrolled in Part A as described above, but youll need to sign up for Part B.
- You arent receiving retirement benefits yet.
- You have end-stage renal disease .
If you have end-stage renal disease , you can apply for Medicare at any time. Otherwise, youre first eligible to enroll during your seven-month Initial Enrollment Period, which typically starts three months before you turn 65, includes the month of your 65th birthday, and ends three months later. When your Medicare coverage begins and when you get your Medicare card depends on the month you sign up during this period.
If you dont enroll in Medicare during your Initial Enrollment Period, in most cases youll have to wait until the General Enrollment Period, which takes place from January to March 31 every year. You may have to pay a late-enrollment penalty for Medicare Part B .
Some people decide to delay Medicare Part B enrollment if they have other coverage, since Part B comes with a premium. If youre working and have health coverage through an employer, you can sign up for Part B with a Special Enrollment Period when you stop working or that coverage ends. You wont have to pay a late enrollment penalty if you sign up during a Special Enrollment Period.
If you worked for a railroad, youd apply for Medicare through the Railroad Retirement Board. Otherwise, youd sign up through Social Security.
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A Note On Medicare Fraud
Medicare fraud refers to one individual using anothers Medicare credentials to receive medical care. In some cases, this can be done with just your Medicare number. For this reason, if youve lost your Medicare card, you should make sure to have it replaced as soon as possible.
Aside from lost cards, another form of Medicare fraud involves fraudsters calling you and pretending to represent Medicare. Medicare will never call you and ask for your credentials or information, and you should refrain from sharing your Medicare number over the phone.
As a general rule, only share your Medicare information with your health care provider, preferably only in person.
How Do You Apply For A Medicare Card
You apply for your Medicare card when you first enroll in Medicare Part A, Part B or both. There are four different options for manually enrolling in Medicare.
How to Apply for a Medicare Card
- You can apply in person at your local Social Security office.
- Railroad workers can apply by calling the Railroad Retirement Board at 1-877-772-5772 .
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Where Can You Find Your Medicare Claim Number
- Your Medicare claim number, or Medicare Beneficiary Identifier is an 11-character number Medicare uses to identify you. Learn how to find your number and how to use it to file a Medicare claim or track your Medicare claim status.
On the front of your Medicare card is a number that is 11 characters long, consisting of numbers and uppercase letters. This is your Medicare claim number, also referred to as a Medicare Beneficiary Identifier .
To avoid confusion between letters and numbers, Medicare does not use the letters S, L, O, I, B or Z. So if your Medicare claim number contains an O, it is the number 0 and not the letter O.
Medicare previously used a persons Social Security number to file claims. But over the course of 2018 and 2019, Medicare issued new cards to all beneficiaries with a randomly assigned number that is unique to each person. This was done to help protect the personal identifying information of Medicare beneficiaries and to help minimize identity theft and other forms of fraud.
If you have lost your Medicare card, log into MyMedicare.gov to print another temporary copy. You may also call 1-800-MEDICARE and follow the prompts for help replacing a lost or stolen card.
Getting A Replacement Card
If youve lost your card and need to get a new Medicare card, you can call 1-800-MEDICARE , or 1-877-486-2048 for TTY users. They will walk you through getting a new card shipped to your address as soon as possible.
You can also get a replacement card directly from the MyMedicare website, by navigating to Replacement Documents and selecting the option to have a new card mailed to you.
If you need proof of enrollment immediately, the most surefire way to get it is by visiting your local Social Security office to get proof of insurance.
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My Medicare Number: Everything You Need To Know
April 29, 2021 / 2 min read / Written by Anna L.
- What is my Medicare number?Jump to
- How can I find my Medicare number?Jump to
- Can I use my Medicare number without the card?Jump to
- How do I get a replacement card?Jump to
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When you enroll in Medicare, you will get your Medicare card in the mail. Your unique Medicare number will be on this card.
You can expect your Medicare card also called your red, white, and blue card to come in the mail 3 months before you turn 65 or your 25th month of receiving disability benefits.
Its important to note that your card is paper, similar to a Social Security Card, which makes it easy to photocopy. Because your card is paper it make be easily damaged or lost, so be sure to be careful!
Can I Pay For Silver Sneakers
Silver Sneakers is a private health and fitness membership program designed for seniors. Its available at no cost to those enrolled in a participating Medicare Advantage plan. You can also take Silver Sneakers classes, which may include everything from cardio to tai chi to yoga, at no cost.
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Unitedhealthcare Community Plan Members
A member ID number and group number let healthcare providers verify your coverage and file claims for health care services. It also helps UnitedHealthcare advocates answer your questions if you call about benefits and claims.
- Member ID number: Each policy holder has a unique member ID number that links to your specific health insurance benefits and coverage. For some members, a unique State ID may also be present on the member ID card.
- Group number: This number is the same for everyone who participates in that insurance plan.
- Member: Your name
- PCP name: Primary Care Provider. This is your main point of contact for most health problems or concerns. It can be a licensed physician, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist or physician assistant. Not all member ID cards contain this information.
- PCP phone number: Phone number for you to easily call your primary care provider.
- Pharmacy Benefits: When your plan includes pharmacy benefits, your pharmacy will need to verify your coverage when filling prescriptions.
The back of the member ID card may include phone numbers to connect with customer service, speak with a nurse and find behavioral health support. It also includes contact information for providers and pharmacists to submit claims.
How Do I Get A New Medicare Card If My Card Is Lost Stolen Or Damaged How Do I Change My Contact Information
If your Medicare card was lost, stolen, or destroyed, you can ask for a replacement by using your online my Social Security account, even if you dont yet receive Social Security benefits. If dont already have a Social Security on-line account, you can create one online. Go to .
Once you are logged in to your account, select the Replacement Documents tab. Then select Mail my replacement Medicare Card.Your Medicare card will arrive in the mail in about 30 days at the address on file with Social Security.If you cant or prefer not to use the online service:
- Call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. or
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Write Your Insurance Company
You can get in touch with your insurance company by writing a letter to request a new insurance card. Here are the mailing addresses for some of the most common Medicare Advantage companies:
- Aetna: Aetna Inc., P.O. Box 14088, Lexington, KY 40512
- BlueCross BlueShield: You must contact member services online or by phone.
- Cigna: Cigna Corporate Headquarters, 900 Cottage Grove Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002
- Kaiser Permanente: Kaiser Permanente has several locations around the country. You can find addresses for each area here.
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What Is A Health Insurance Group Number
A group number is assigned to the employer or other group that sponsors an insurance plan for its employees or other individuals covered by the group plan. Each member of the group will share the same group number, but each person will have their own unique member number.
A group number helps identify the benefits provided by the plan and is used by health care providers in the billing process.
Group numbers are generally only used for employer-sponsored plans or other group plans. Individual plans purchased directly from an insurance carrier or through the health insurance marketplace typically do not have a group number because they are not tied to any employer or group.
Nearly all insurance plans will assign members an individual member ID number, however. The member number can be found on your insurance card and may also be referred to as a policy number.
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Medicare Online Account Help
Learn how to get your own Medicare card and number using your Medicare online account, or the Express Plus Medicare mobile app.
The screenshots in this guide are from a computer. The screen layout will look different if youre using a mobile device.
You can get your own card online if you meet all of these requirements:
- youre living in Australia and youre an Australian citizen, New Zealand citizen or you have a permanent resident visa
- youre 15 or older
- youre only on one Medicare card
- your current Medicare card has other people on it
- youre not the contact person of your current Medicare card
- you want your own Medicare card with just your name on it.
How Do I Get A Replacement Card
You can get a replacement Medicare card on the Social Security website, at SSA.gov. Once youre logged into your account, select the Replacement Documents tab. Then you will have the option to select Mail my replacement Medicare Card.
You can expect your replacement Medicare card to arrive in the mail in about 30 days.
Be sure that your current address is correct in your Social Security account before requesting a replacement card, as your card will be sent to the address that you have on file.
If you prefer not to use an online services, you can call 1-800-MEDICARE to request a replacement card.
Medicare information is everywhere. What is hard is knowing which information to trust. Because eHealths Medicare related content is compliant with CMS regulations, you can rest assured youre getting accurate information so you can make the right decisions for your coverage. Read more to learn about our Compliance Program.
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What To Do If You Already Receive Retirement Benefits
If you already receive retirement benefits, then your enrollment in Medicare will be automatic. This will be the case whether your benefits come from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board.
Three months prior to your 65th birthday, you should receive a package in the mail with your red, white, and blue Medicare card along with additional information about your enrollment. Your Medicare card will contain your Medicare number, which will be used to identify you and allow you to receive your benefits.
