What Information Is On Your Medicare Card
Besides your full name, your Medicare card includes your Medicare number as well as important information about the health insurance coverage to which you are entitled. This includes:2
- Medicare numberThis is one of the most important pieces of information on your Medicare card. Its what the billing department will use when it submits for reimbursement from Medicare. Your Medicare number used to be your Social Security number , but now its a more secure, randomly generated combination of 11 numerals and capital letters. It is confidential and should only be shared with people you trust.3
- Part AIf you have Part A, labeled HOSPITAL, you are entitled to care in a hospital or skilled nursing facility, hospice care and home healthcare. The date your coverage begins is also included.4
- Part BIf you have Part B, labeled MEDICAL, you are entitled to medical care and preventive services. Your coverage starting date for Part B is also included.5
If you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you will receive a separate ID card. If your plan covers prescription drugs, your MA card will include that information too. You should use your MA card as your primary Medicare card, but you should still keep your Medicare card in a safe place.
Good to Know
Your Medicare number is no longer your Social Security number, but a more secure combination of letters and numbers that helps protect you from identity theft.
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.
Keep Your Medicare Number Safe
Dont give out your Medicare number to anyone who asks. Medicare says you should only give this number to doctors or other healthcare providers, your pharmacy, and any Medicare Advantage or Medicare prescription drug plan you might have. If you have Medicare Supplement, the insurance company will need your Medicare number.
But if someone calls uninvited and asks for your Medicare number, beware. Dont give out that information. Medicare recommends you call them instead, at 1-800-MEDICARE . TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048. Medicare representatives are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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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.
How To Find A Patient’s New Medicare Number
Starting next month, youll be able to look up your Medicare patients new Medicare numbers through the secure web portal of your Medicare Administrative Contractor . If you dont already have access to your MACs portal, .Note, you can discover a patients MBI this way only if Medicare has mailed the beneficiary a new Medicare card. Medicare is mailing cards to its beneficiaries in phases . Ask your patients for their new cards when they come for care if they are newly enrolled in Medicare or in an area of the country where Medicare has already begun mailing the new cards. If patients dont have their new cards when they come for care, you still can look up their MBI, assuming the new Medicare card has been mailed to them. Starting in October, Medicare will also return MBIs on remittance advices when you submit claims with valid and active Health Insurance Claim Numbers the Medicare numbers that MBIs are replacing. For more information, see the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services web site. Kent Moore, Senior Strategist for Physician Payment at the American Academy of Family Physicians
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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.
When Will My Medicare Card Arrive
If you are enrolled in Medicare automatically, you will get your card three months before your 65th
birthday or just before your 25th month of disability benefits. Medicare mails it to those who signed up
shortly after enrollment at the address on file with Social Security.
If you want to learn more about your Medicare coverage options, our qualified agents are happy to
assist you. Call 950-0608 or go online to compare options now.
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How Do I Replace A Lost Medicare Card
You can order a replacement Medicare card online, using the Social Security website. Youll be directed to log into your My Social Security account, where youll be able to request a new card. The card will be mailed to the address on your account within 30 days so make sure your address correct. You can also call Social Security toll-free at 1-800-772-1213 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. If you are deaf or hard of hearing, call Social Securitys toll-free TTY number at 1-800-325-0778.
If you need proof that you have Medicare sooner than 30 days, you can request to have a letter mailed to you within 10 days. Or, if you need proof immediately that you have Medicare for a prescription or for your doctor the site may advise you to make an appointment at a Social Security office thats open.
If you need proof of your Medicare enrollment sooner, many health care providers offices will accept a Social Security statement showing your entitlement. You should be able to print this out online. Medicare Advantage, Part D, and Medigap insurers have their own insurance cards. Contact your insurer if you need to replace one of these cards.
Maurie Backman has been writing professionally for well over a decade, and her coverage area runs the gamut from healthcare to personal finance to career advice. Much of her writing these days revolves around retirement and its various components and challenges, including healthcare, Medicare, Social Security, and money management.
How Do I Contact My Local Medicaid Office
Agency Details Website: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Contact: Contact the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Local Offices: Contact State Medicaid Offices. Toll Free: 1-800-633-4227. TTY: 1-877-486-2048. Forms: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Forms.
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Can I View My Medicare Account Online
MyMedicare.gov is Medicares free, secure, online service for managing personal information regarding Original Medicare benefits and services. Original Medicare beneficiaries can create an account with MyMedicare.gov and use it to check information about their coverage, enrollment status, and Medicare claims.
What About Medicare Advantage And Medicare Part D
Medicare Advantage plans, as well as Part D prescription drug plans, are offered by private insurance companies, not the U.S. government. This means that these plans will have their own insurance ID cards for you to use.
Your Original Medicare card will only apply if you have Part A and Part B coverage. However, you should still make sure to keep your Original Medicare card safe, in case your coverage changes.
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Are Silver Sneakers Online Classes
SilverSneakers LIVE From the comfort of your home, enjoy virtual classes and workshops directly through the SilverSneakers website. And since its included in the SilverSneakers benefit, SilverSneakers LIVE is available at no additional cost to members and offers virtual classes and workshops via Zoom.
What If I Get Disability Benefits
If you receive government disability benefits, then you will receive a Medicare card on the 25th month after your benefits begin.
In this case, your benefits will function the same as they do for someone who is 65. Your Medicare card will allow you to receive your benefits and will serve as proof that you are insured under Medicare.
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How Can I Change My Information
Although most of the updates that you make to your Medicare information are done through MyMedicare, changing your address and other information is a different story. This is because Medicare uses the information that you have on file with Social Security.
If you need to update your address, you will have to log into your My Social Security account in order to update your information for both Medicare and Social Security.
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How Do You Get Your Medicare Card
Your Medicare card is mailed to you once you have enrolled in Medicare. If you are automatically enrolled, you will receive the card about three months before your 65th birthday or after your 24th month of receiving disability benefits. If you are automatically enrolled and havent received your card, you can go online to request another one.
If you arent currently receiving Social Security benefits, you may have to sign up for Medicare either online, by phone or in person at a Social Security office.
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If You Need A New Medicare Card Sooner
Have a doctors appointment? If you cant wait 30 days for your new card to arrive, you can visit your local Social Security office or call 1-800-772-1213 Monday through Friday, from 7AM to 7PM.
The agency will mail you a letter that you can use as proof of Medicare eligibility until you receive your new Medicare card. You should receive this letter within 10 days of submitting the request.
If you receive Railroad Retirement Board benefits, you should call your local RRB office or 1-877-772-5772. TTY users can dial 1-312-751-4701. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, from 9AM to 3:30PM.
Provider Transaction Access Number
A PTAN is a Medicare-only number issued to providers by Medicare Administrative Contractors upon enrollment to Medicare. MACs issue an approval/notification letter, including PTAN information, when an enrollment is approved.
PTAN and NPI RelationshipWhile only the National Provider Identifier is submitted on claims, the PTAN is a critical number directly linked to a provider or supplierâs NPI. A PTANâs use should generally be limited to a providerâs communication with their MAC.
Multiple PTANs for Different Practice Locations May be AppropriateNoridian may determine and issue more than one PTAN depending only upon the reasonable charge locality of your practice locations. Unless the reasonable charge locality changes, additional PTANs will not be assigned.
Provider Not Eligible for a Medicare PTANRequests for a âdenial only letterâ are no longer accepted. Providers that are not eligible for a Medicare number must have the beneficiary submit the CMS-1490S form.
Inactive PTANs are DeactivatedMedicare is mandated by CMS to deactivate PTANs not being used. The deactivation process occurs every month. A providerâs PTAN is deactivated when he or she has not billed the Medicare program for four consecutive quarters. A PTAN is given an end-date when it is deactivated, meaning claims can get submitted prior to the end-date within a year of the service date.
Find my PTANThere are two options to find a provider PTAN.
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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.
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.
If this isnt your situation, you can complete an application to copy or transfer from one Medicare card to another form.
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How Long Does It Take For A Medicare Application To Be Approved
Once your application has been reviewed, you should receive a letter in the mail to confirm whether youve been enrolled in the program or not. If your application has been denied, the letter will explain why this decision was made and what to do next.
If your application has been approved, youll receive a red, white, and blue Medicare card in the mail. Your card will show your name, Medicare number, which Medicare plans you benefit from, and the start dates for each plan.
Youll receive your card within about 3 weeks from the date you apply for Medicare. You should carry your card with you whenever youre away from home.
You can sign in to your MyMedicare.gov account if you need to print a replacement card.
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 To Check Your Medicare Application Online
If you applied for Medicare online, you can check the status of your application through your Medicare or Social Security account. You can also visit the Check Enrollment page on Medicare.gov and find information about your enrollment status by entering your:
- ZIP code
- Medicare Part A effective date
You can also check the status of your application by visiting or calling a Social Security office.
You can ask your pharmacy to check the status of your Medicare Part D enrollment by sending a test claim.
You can also call the Member Services department of your Medicare Part D plan.
How Do You Keep Your Card And Information Safe
If you dont want to carry the card with you when youre not going to the doctor, you should keep it in a safe place at home, such as a locked desk drawer or a fireproof safe.
Be sure to put it back in the same place every time once youre done using it. If you forget where you put it, you may need to get a replacement card.
Before 2018, Medicare cards used a subscribers Social Security number as their ID, which led to problems of identity theft. Now that your Medicare number is no longer your SSN, its less risky to lose the card. Nonetheless, you should still be careful about giving out your Medicare number to anyone other than a doctor, pharmacist, insurer or other healthcare professional. Protect it as you do your credit cards, since con artists are always trying to get Medicare beneficiaries personal information.8
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When Does My Coverage Start
When and how you enroll for a Medicare plan impacts when your coverage begins. Your benefits may not start until three months after you apply.
If you have not received an acceptance letter 45 to 90 days after submitting your application, call the Social Security Administration or check online. You will need your Medicare application number to do so.
Once your coverage begins, you do not need to reapply each year for Medicare benefits.
However, you will have an opportunity to change plans or adjust your coverage during the open enrollment period, which runs from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 each year.
Prepare for the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period
