Replacing Your Medicare Advantage Part D Or Med Supp Card
If a beneficiary receives Medicare benefits through a private company, like a Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, or Medicare Supplement insurance carrier, they will need to call their carrierâs customer service hotline or visit their website. From there, they should be able to request a replacement card, which should arrive at their address within 30 days.
How To Get A Replacement Card During A Natural Disaster Or Emergency
If youre in an area affected by a natural disaster or another emergency, the rules for how you receive care via Medicare may be suspended. For example, you may not have as strict rules about going to in-network providers or pharmacies.
If possible, you can obtain an image of your Medicare plan in an emergency by going to MyMedicare.gov and printing a replacement copy. Its a good idea to go ahead and sign up for an online account now. If theres an emergency, youll already have your login information.
Medicare.gov has a page on how to get care in specific emergencies, including if you need dialysis or cancer treatments.
How Do I Get A Replacement Medicare Card
Your Medicare card is proof of your Medicare insurance. If your Medicare card was lost, stolen, or destroyed, you can request a replacement with your personal mySocial Security account.
If you dont already have an 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 so be sure to make sure your mailing address is correct before completing the request.
If you need to know your new Medicare number now, you have some options. In your personal mySocial Security account, you can get your Benefit Verification Letter, which includes your Medicare number. You can also visit Medicare.gov and sign in to see your Medicare number and print an official copy of your card. If you dont have a Medicare.gov account, go to Medicare.gov and select Log In/Create Account. Then, follow the instructions.
If you cant or prefer not to use the online service, you can call 1-800-MEDICARE .
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A Medicaid card also has some personal information on it, so its important to keep it safe and protected to avoid instances of fraud. And its just as important to have a lost or stolen card replaced as soon as possible.
Because each state operates its own Medicaid program, each state Medicaid card is likely to look slightly different.
Reducing The Risk Of A Stolen Medicare Card
In an effort to reduce the risk of theft, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services began issuing new Medicare cards with the SSNs removed. This initiative started in April 2018 and it will continue until April 2019, which is when all Medicare cards have been effectively replaced.
While this should help limit the appeal of obtaining your Medicare card, there remains the possibility that it could be stolen. What should you do if this happens to you?
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How To Replace A Stolen Medicare Card
There are many reasons why someone may try to steal your Medicare card. Among them are to obtain their own medical care using your information, to purchase drugs, or to create fake billings to Medicare in your name, according to the Office of Inspector General . Whatever the circumstances may be, there are steps you can take to replace your stolen Medicare card and reduce the risk of identity theft.
In the past, this was much easier because your Medicare numberthe one listed on the face of your Medicare cardwas the same as your Social Security Number. As with any document or card that contains your SSN, this put you at an elevated risk of someone stealing your card.
Additional Medicare Card Protection Advice
Medicare.gov offers additional advice that can be helpful when it comes to adequately protecting your Medicare card. This includes not revealing your Medicare card information to anyone who requests it via phone, email, or in person. Instead, the only people you should give this information to are the following:
- Your healthcare team
- Insurers you currently use
- Individuals in your community who work directly with Medicare
Additionally, if someone calls you and requests your card information, hang up immediately. No one from Medicare will ever call you and request this information. After hanging up, call Medicare at 633-4227 and let them know what happened.
In the event that you have already provided this information to someone you now suspect may want to use it illegally, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. You can do this online by selecting the type of complaint you want to file and entering the requested information.
Its also important to check over your medical bills, Medicare Summary Notices, and Explanation of Benefits to make sure theyre accurate. In the event that you notice something suspicious or suspect that you may be a victim of medical fraud, you can contact any of the following agencies for help:
- Medicare Call Center at 633-4227
- OIG Hotline at 447-8477 or via email at
- Federal Trade Commission Identity Theft Hotline at 438-4338
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Minimum Essential Coverage And Tax Penalties
Q. Who is required to have Minimum Essential Coverage ? A. All U.S. citizens living in the United States are required to have health coverage or insurance that meets the Affordable Care Act’s definition of Minimum Essential Coverage . Otherwise, you may have to pay a tax penalty called the “shared responsibility provision.” Citizens required to have MEC also include:
- Children –
- Each child in a family must have MEC or the adult claiming the child as a dependent may have to pay the penalty.
- Senior Citizens –
- Aside from Medicaid, Medicare Parts A and C qualify as MEC.
- Foreign Nationals and Resident Aliens –
- You are required to have MEC if you have been in the U.S. long enough during a calendar year to qualify as a resident alien for tax purposes. If you have to file a tax return, but have not been in the U.S. long enough to be considered a resident alien, you are not required to have MEC.
- U.S. Citizens Living Abroad –
- You are required to have MEC unless you have not been physically present in the United States for at least 330 full days within a 12-month period or if you are considered a bona fide resident of a foreign country for an entire taxable year.
If you don’t file a tax return, you can also apply for the exemption using forms available at healthcare.gov .
Did You Get Your New Medicare Card
All Medicare beneficiaries were supposed to get new cards by April 2019 featuring a randomly generated Medicare Beneficiary Identifier ,2 This card uses numbers and letters, instead of a Social Security number. This is meant to prevent identity theft. If you still havent gotten one, request a replacement card. Medicare recommends that you destroy the old card with your Social Security number on it when your new one arrives.
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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 don’t 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
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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I Need A Medicare Replacement Card
If your Medicare card is lost, stolen, or damaged, you can replace a Medicare card through the Social Security Administration or Railroad Retirement Board.
You have a few options:
- Request a replacement Medicare card online through your My Social Security account. If you dont have an account, you can create one here. If youve recently moved or changed your name, you can also update the information Medicare has on file for you through your account.
Replacing Your Other Medicare Cards
In addition to your red, white, and blue Medicare card, you may have other Medicare cards if you have the following plans:
Private insurance companies, not the government, provide these plans, so youll need to contact the plan provider directly for a replacement card.
Look for any past bills or other plan documents to find a website or phone number. If you cant find the contact information of your plan provider, call 1-800-MEDICARE instead. The representatives there can point you in the right direction.
If you dont have any of these plans but want to learn more, read our Ultimate Medicare Guide or give us a call. Adding coverage could save you money on health care.
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What Insurance Companies Say To Do
Most insurance companies advise contacting them or visiting their online portal if you lose your Medicare card. Some ways you can obtain the information include:
- bringing your enrollment confirmation from your Medicare Advantage plan to the pharmacy, being sure it includes your plans name, enrollment confirmation number, and a phone number on how to contact the plan
- keeping a scanned copy of the front and back of your card in a safe place so you can access your policy number and key phone numbers to call
Replacing Your Medicare Card
If your red, white, and blue Original Medicare card is lost or stolen, or you can no longer use it because it is too faded or damaged, you can replace it by calling 1-800-MEDICARE . You can also order or print a replacement card by logging into your mymedicare.gov account.
If you get Medicare health or drug benefits from a Medicare Advantage Plan, such as an HMO, PPO, or PDP, call your plan to get your card replaced.
If you get Medicare through the Railroad Retirement Board, call the Railroad Retirement Board to order a replacement Medicare card. You should get your new card in the mail within 30 days.
Your Medicare card, Social Security card, and other health insurance cards are very important documents. Make sure to keep a photocopy of your important identification and insurance cards, write down any important numbers , and keep everything in a safe place so that you have a record for future reference if anything gets lost.
Also, if your Medicare card has been lost or stolen, watch out for Medicare fraud. Check your Medicare Summary Notice for services you did not receive, and if you spot any, report them to the Inspector Generals fraud hotline at 800-HHS-TIPS . You can also get help from your local Senior Medicare Patrol.
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What To Do If You Think Your Medicaid Card Has Been Compromised
A lost or stolen Medicaid card that falls into the wrong hands can lead to fraud against the Medicaid program or even against you. Thats why its so important to report a lost or stolen card immediately.
Medicaid employs its own fraud investigators, and filing a report with this team can establish proof that you reported the missing card at a particular time and date, which can help protect you from identity theft.
Its important to not allow anyone else to use your Medicaid card. Not only could the person using the card encounter legal trouble for using the card, but you could be held liable for fraud as well.
If you are enrolled in a Medicaid-Medicare plan such as a Dual-eligible Special Needs Plan, you may have a separate card, and you may need to contact your insurance carrier directly to report a lost card and request a new one.
These plans are designed for people on both Medicare and Medicaid and feature a set of benefits that cater to those specific needs. Plan members do not pay a monthly premium and most plans include dental benefits that may include coverage for dentures.
If you are eligible for Medicare, speak to a licensed insurance agent to find out if Dual-eligible Special Needs Plans are available in your area.
What Information Do I Need To Replace A Lost Medicare Card
In order to get a replacement card, youll need to supply 1) your name , 2) your date of birth, and 3) your Social Security number.If youre receiving drug or health benefits from an approved Medicare Advantage Plane.g., a PDP, HMO, or PPOcontact the plan to ask them to replace your card.If you receive Medicare benefits from the Railroad Retirement Board, contact them at 877-772-5772 to request a replacement Medicare card.The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid should send the replacement card by post within 30 days.
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How Do I Order A Replacement Medicare Card
En español | You can request a replacement Medicare card by contacting Social Security at www.ssa.gov.
To make your online request, you will need your:
- Name as it appears on your most recent Social Security card
- Social Security number
- Date of birth
Your Medicare card should arrive in the mail in about 30 days.If you prefer, or if you are unable to use the online request to obtain a replacement Medicare card, call Social Security at 800-772-1213 .
What To Do If Your Medicare Advantage Card Is Stolen
In the event that you have Medicare Advantagea Medicare plan offered through a private insurance provideryou will need to contact your insurance provider directly and let them know that your card has been stolen. Each provider has a different process for dealing with this type of situation, so its important to ask what you need to do in the event that someone has taken your card.
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No one from Medicare will ever call you and request this information.
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Is My Medicare Card The Only Proof Of Health Coverage I’ll Need
Your Medicare card will not indicate whether you have Medicare Advantage, a Medicare Part D drug plan, or supplemental insurance . Generally, youll get a separate card from your plan administrator for each of these plans. If you have Medicare Advantage or Medigap, its a good idea to also carry those cards with you when seeing providers in addition to your regular Medicare card.
Can You Access Services Without Your Medicare Card
It is still possible to access healthcare services without being able to present a Medicare card. People can do this in several different ways.
A person with Original Medicare may log in to myMedicare.gov and print a temporary copy of their Medicare card.
In addition, while waiting for their replacement card, the person can ask their healthcare provider to look up their Medicare number online.
A persons primary care doctor and their previous healthcare providers may also have insurance information on file in their medical records.
It may take 30 days for a persons new card to arrive. However, a person may require proof of their Medicare enrollment before it comes.
Beneficiaries can also request a letter stating that they have Medicare and providing their Medicare number. Usually, the letter takes about 10 days to arrive.
A person may need immediate proof of Medicare coverage. In these circumstances, they may visit a local Social Security office in person.
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Why Do I Need A My Social Security Account
Its possible to request a replacement of your Original Medicare card by visiting a local Social Security field office.However, most people have busy lives, jobs, and families to manage. Setting up a my Social Security account can help you learn more about how much money you can expect to receive from Social Security in retirement.Many people report that the biggest source of their future retirement income will be Social Security benefits. You can use the my Social Security account to estimate retirement benefits at age 62 , or age 70 .In addition to allowing you to get a replacement Medicare card with ease, the my Social Security page helps you:
- Track annual income and verify earnings each year
- Estimate future Social Security benefits before retirement
- Request a proof of benefits letter if you receive Social Security benefits
- Manage Social Security benefits
