How To Replace Medicare Card If Lost

Getting Help With Your Other Medicare Questions

How do I replace a lost or stolen Medicare card?

Do you have other questions about your Medicare coverage? Did you know that $0 premium Medicare Advantage plans may be available in your area?

Learn more about your Medicare Advantage coverage options and compare available plans by calling today to speak with a licensed insurance agent.

Find Medicare Advantage plans in your area

Or call 1-800-557-6059TTY Users: 711 to speak with a licensed insurance agent. We accept calls 24/7!

About the author

David Levine is an award-winning writer and editor whose work has been featured in the New York Times, New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated, American Heritage, U.S. News & World Report and others.

David has covered health, health insurance and health policy topics among many others since 2017. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in English from the University of Rochester and currently lives in Albany, New York.

Medicare Enrollment Guide

MedicareAdvantage.com is a website owned and operated by TZ Insurance Solutions LLC. TZ Insurance Solutions LLC and TruBridge, Inc. represent Medicare Advantage Organizations and Prescription Drug Plans having Medicare contracts enrollment in any plan depends upon contract renewal.

Plan availability varies by region and state. For a complete list of available plans, please contact 1-800-MEDICARE , 24 hours a day/7 days a week or consult www.medicare.gov.

Medicare has neither reviewed nor endorsed this information.

How To Order A New Medicare Card If Yours Is Lost

As a Medicare beneficiary, your Medicare card is one of the most important pieces of identification you own and should be guarded carefully. It is proof that you have Medicare and is usually needed to receive Medicare-covered health services. If you need to replace a lost, stolen, or damaged Medicare card, applying for a new Medicare card is simple.

If you need a replacement Medicare card, you can apply through Social Security as described below.

Replacing Your Lost Stolen Or Damaged Card

If your Medicare card is lost, stolen or damaged, you can request a new card. You can do this by:

calling the Medicare program.

Your new card will replace your old card. Youll have the same Medicare number that you did before, but your old card will no longer be valid. Well send your new card in 3 to 4 weeks. Well send it to the address you give us.

You can use a digital copy of your Medicare card in the meantime. Read more about how to get a digital card.

Also Check: When You Are On Medicare Do You Need Supplemental Insurance

Also Check: How To Calculate Medicare Wages

What To Know About Your Medicare Card

Medicare will send your card in the mail along with your Welcome to Medicare packet. Click here to see a sample of the red, white, and blue Medicare card.

If you have Original Medicare, show your Medicare card to your health care providers when you receive services. If you have Medicare Advantage, use your plans card to get services, but keep your Medicare card in a safe place in case you go back to Original Medicare later.

Its a good idea to create personal, secure online accounts with both Social Security and Medicare. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service manages the Medicare program, which provides health coverage. The Social Security Administration manages Social Security which provides financial and disability assistance. The two programs are related. Log into Social Security for a replacement Medicare card or Medicare.gov to print a new card.

Medicare fraud is a real threat. Treat your Medicare number and card as you would a credit card, and only share your number with trusted providers.

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

Also Check: How To Apply For Medicare Supplemental Insurance

Find A $0 Premium Medicare Advantage Plan Today

For California residents, CA-Do Not Sell My Personal Info, .

The purpose of this communication is the solicitation of insurance. Callers will be directed to a licensed insurance agent with TZ Insurance Solutions LLC, TruBridge, Inc. and/or a third-party partner who can provide more information about Medicare Advantage Plans offered by one or several Medicare-contracted carrier. TZ Insurance Solutions LLC, TruBridge, Inc., and the licensed sales agents that may call you are not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. Government or the federal Medicare program.

Plan availability varies by region and state. For a complete list of available plans, please contact 1-800-MEDICARE , 24 hours a day/7 days a week or consult www.medicare.gov.

Medicare has neither reviewed nor endorsed this information.

How Do Medicare Number Or Card Scams Work

The scammers may try to convince you that you need to pay a fee to have your card fixed or activated.

A scammer could call you and claim youre eligible for a refund for a service or treatment that was covered. They would then ask for your personal information such as your Medicare number or SSN. They could also ask for a credit card number or bank information to process your refund. Do NOT provide any of that information!

Another scam is an offer of free medical supplies. A scammer may contact you and claim that you can receive a free checkup, free services, treatments, or equipment. They will ask for your Medicare number or SSN. They may claim that they need that information to verify your identity.

Ultimately the scammers goal is to get your Medicare number, SSN, bank information, or credit card number. Do not provide those details to ANYONE who randomly contacts you over the phone. Once the scammers have your personal information they may use it to commit identity theft, fraud, or to steal money.

Recommended Reading: Does Medicare Cover Cost Of Wheelchair

Getting And Replacing Your Medicare Card

Need a Medicare card? Heres how to get one whether youre new to Medicare or need a replacement.

Contributing expert: Leron Moore, Medicare consultant

What you should know

1.When you apply for Medicare, upon approval, you will receive a red, white, and blue Medicare membership card.	2. Your Medicare card wont have your Social Security number on it. There will be a unique identification number thats generated and listed on your card.
3. Your Medicare card is in paper form. It isnt advised that you laminate your card. It isnt illegal however, there are security features built-in that may be compromised if the card is laminated.

Getting A New Medicare Card For Original Medicare

Medicare Card Replacement Guide if Card is Lost, Stolen or Damaged

Beneficiaries with Original Medicare can request a new card in a few places. First, you can sign into MyMedicare.gov, where youâll be able to find and print a copy of your Original Medicare card. You can also go to the Social Security Administrationâs website, SSA.gov, and sign into your my Social Security account. From there, navigate to the âReplacement Documentsâ page and select âMail my replacement Medicare Card.â

If youâre unable to, or do not wish to, request a new Original Medicare card online, you have two other options. First, you can contact or visit your local Social Security office, which can help you request a new card. The other option is to call Social Security at 1-800-722-1213 anytime between 7 AM to 7 PM Monday through Friday.

You should receive your new Original Medicare card in the mail within 30 days.

Once youâve requested your replacement card, you should receive your new Original Medicare card in the mail within 30 days. If you need your Medicare details sooner than 30 days, you can request a letter that may act as a temporary proof of enrollment. This letter should arrive in around 10 days. These items will be sent to the address that Social Security has on file for you.

Note: If you enrolled in Medicare through the Railroad Retirement Board, you must request a replacement card on RRB.gov, by calling 1-877-772-5772 , or by contacting your local Railroad Retirement Board office.

What Is My Medicare Card

Your Medicare Card is your proof of insurance, and isnecessary if you need to go to the hospital, doctor, or in a medical emergency.It also lists information such as your Medicare Part A and Medicare Part Bstart dates, which you need to know if you apply for Medicare Supplement orMedicare Advantage coverage.

What Is My Medicare Number

Your Medicare number is a unique-to-you number. It is not the same as your Social Security number. You can find your Medicare number on your Medicare card just below your name. You can also find your card number by logging into your MyMedicare.gov account. Remember: protect your Medicare number. Only give it to your health care professionals. Beware of giving out your number over the phone or to someone you dont know.

Read Also: Is Home Health Covered By Medicare

Medicare Online Account Help

Instructions on how you can get a replacement or extra Medicare card.

You can get a replacement Medicare card for any of these reasons, if the card is:

lost or damaged

You can get a copy of your card if there are multiple people on it and you need an extra one.

The screenshots in this guide are from a computer. The screen layout will look different if youre using a mobile device.

Dont Miss: How Does Geha Work With Medicare

Protecting Personal Medicare Information

In the past, a persons Medicare card listed their social security number, which also served as their Medicare number.

However, this changed in 2018. A Medicare beneficiary identifier number replaced the social security number on all Medicare cards in 2018 to reduce the likelihood of medical identity theft.

It is still vital, however, to be proactive about preventing fraudulent activity. For example, it is essential for people with Medicare to avoid sharing their Medicare beneficiary identifier number with anyone except their healthcare provider.

A person should never provide personal Medicare information to a person who emails or calls for information. Also, beneficiaries should never let another individual borrow the card to pay for services on their behalf.

People should also consider checking their Medicare Summary Notice to make sure that it is accurate. If people identify services that they did not receive, they should first call their healthcare provider to determine whether a billing error occurred.

People concerned about possible Medicare identity theft or fraudulent activity should contact Medicare on 800-MEDICARE .

You May Like: Who Is My Medicare Carrier

Confirm Or Update Your Address

Well send your replacement or extra card to your postal address. Make sure your postal address is up-to-date.

If you need to update your postal address select Edit.

If your postal address is correct select Confirm addresses.

Well confirm that your request for a replacement or extra card has been successful.

To view your card, select Go to card page.

To return to the homepage, select Home.

How To Get Or Replace Your Medicare Card

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This may influence which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list ofour partnersandheres how we make money.

When you need to get a Medicare card or replace one, you can easily request it online or by phone. Whether youre enrolling in Medicare for the first time or replacing a lost, stolen or damaged card, obtaining the traditional red, white and blue Medicare card shouldnt be an obstacle to receiving and paying for health care.

The card includes your name and Medicare number, and if youre an Original Medicare beneficiary, it will show if you have Part A , Part B or both. Youll use this card to get your Medicare-covered services. If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan or Part D prescription drug plan, youll get a card from the provider when you enroll.

Also Check: What Is The Difference Between Medicare

Make Sure Your Address Is Up To Date

Your new Medicare card will be mailed to the address on file with the Social Security Administration.

If youve moved recently, make sure you have accurate information on file with SSA. Otherwise, your new card will go to the wrong address.

Youll also miss other important documents from Medicare, like your summary notices, which details the doctor visits, services and supplies billed to Medicare in your name every three months.

You can update your address in just a couple minutes through your My Social Security account.

Dont have an online Social Security account? You can also call SSAs national customer service line at 800-772-1213 to update your mailing address.

Youll also need to update your address with the private insurance companies that administer other Medicare benefits:

Medicare supplement insurance policy, also known as Medigap
Part D prescription drug plan

Private insurance for specific areas such as dental, hearing and vision

Trying to save money on things like eyeglasses, hearing aids or dental work? Our money-saving Medicare guides have you covered.

Questionable Charges On Your Medicare Account

How to Get a Replacement Medicare Card Online

The scammer may put questionable charges on your Medicare account. This is a way they use to steal money.

Check your Medicare Summary Notice or MSN for short to verify there are no fake charges on your account. If your card number is compromised contact Medicare immediately to inform them to refuse the false charges. You can also report them to a fraud hotline at 800-HHS-TIPS

Basically, a scammers main goal is to get money from you or someone else. They will use your personal information as a tool to do this. Protect yourself by being cautious and familiarizing yourself with common scams.

Dont Miss: When Will I Get Medicare

You May Like: Is Upmc For You Medicare Or Medicaid

What Documents Do You Need For A Social Security Card

When applying for a new Social Security card, there are several documents youll need. The items you need vary depending on whether you:

Are an adult or child
Need an original, replacement, or corrected card
Are U.S. born citizen, foreign born U.S. citizen, or noncitizen

All documents you use or submit must be originals or copies certified by the issuing agency. Photocopies or notarized copies are not accepted.

For our purposes, were looking at the required documents for an adult, U.S. born citizen. You can find requirements for your specific scenario on Social Securitys website.

How Do You Avoid Medicare Fraud From A Lost Or Stolen Card

Medicare fraud happens when false claims or misrepresentations of fact result in a federal health care payment that should not have occurred. If your Medicare card is lost or stolen, someone may try to commit fraud by submitting a claim with your information to get paid for services that were never provided. The best ways to avoid fraud from a lost or stolen card are:

Replace your card immediately.
Keep written records of all health care services you receive.
Review your Medicare Summary Notice or Explanation of Benefits to ensure you and your Medicare health and drug plan are only being charged for actual services received.

Report suspected fraud by contacting Medicare at MEDICARE 633-4227. TTY users can call 486-2048.
If youre in a Medicare Advantage Plan, call the Medicare Drug Integrity Contractor at 7SAFERX 772-3379).
Understand what Medicare plan representatives can and cant do. For instance, dont believe anyone who calls you from Medicare or Social Security. These agencies will never initiate a call to you and will only call you if you ask them to.

How Do I Get A New Medicare Card Online

To request a new Medicare card online, go to the Social Security website at www.ssa.gov. You must have an account to ask for a new card, so if you dont already have one, youll need to sign up. You dont need to receive Social Security benefits in order to make an account, and registering is simple.

Follow these steps tocomplete your request online:

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 donât have an account, you can create one here. If youâve recently moved or changed your name, you can also update the information Medicare has on file for you through your account.

Visit your local Social Security office.
If you worked for a railroad, request a replacement card through the Railroad Retirement Board . You can also call the RRB at 1-877-772-5772 , Monday through Friday, 9AM to 3:30PM.

Your replacement Medicare card will be mailed to you about 30 days after you submit your request. The card will be sent to your address on file, so contact Social Security or the RRB to update your address if youâve recently moved. You can also update your address and contact information yourself by logging into your My Social Security account.

If youâre enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, or other type of Medicare plan, you may have a separate insurance card. If you need to replace your card, contact your Medicare plan directly for more information on getting a replacement card.

Recommended Reading: Does Medicare Cover Inspire Sleep