Tips To Keep Your Medicare Number Safe
Even though your Medicare Number is no longer the same as your Social Security number, you can still be at risk for medical scams if it falls into the wrong hands. Follow these tips to keep yourself safe:
- If you think your Medicare Number or Medicare Card has been stolen, alert Medicare at 1-633-4227 .
- Be careful to only give your Medicare Number to people you trust, like your healthcare providers, insurers, and pharmacists. Be wary of people selling medical devices or tests who ask for your Medicare Number and tell you that you dont need to consult with your healthcare provider first.
- Dont give your Medicare Number to someone calling you and claiming to be from Medicare if you havent requested a call. If youre in doubt, you can always hang up and call Medicare at 1633-4227 to be sure youre speaking to someone from Medicare.
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.
Coordination Of Benefits Overview
The Benefits Coordination & Recovery Center consolidates the activities that support the collection, management, and reporting of other insurance coverage for Medicare beneficiaries. The purpose of the COB program is to identify the health benefits available to a Medicare beneficiary and to coordinate the payment process to prevent mistaken Medicare payment. The BCRC does not process claims or claim-specific inquiries. The Medicare Administrative Contractors, , intermediaries, and carriers are responsible for processing claims submitted for primary or secondary payment and resolving situations where a provider receives a mistaken payment of Medicare benefits.
All Medicare Secondary Payer claims investigations are initiated from and researched by the BCRC, and is not a function of the local Medicare claims paying office. This single-source development approach greatly reduces the number of duplicate MSP investigations. This also offers a centralized, one-stop customer service approach for all MSP-related inquiries, including those seeking general MSP information. The BCRC provides customer service to all callers from any source, including, but not limited to, beneficiaries, attorneys/other beneficiary representatives, employers, insurers, providers, and suppliers.
Recommended Reading: What Is The Difference Medicare Part A And B
How To Obtain A Cms Certification Number
This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHowâs Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This article has been viewed 31,099 times.Learn moreâ¦
If your organisation is providing medical care for patients itâs incredibly important that you have a CMS Certification Number. Medicare may be available to cover the costs of your operations, such as if youre providing care to those over 65. The CMS Certification Number application process is simple once you know what youâre doing and the various websites associated with CMS and Medicare hold plenty of FAQâs the answer any questions.XResearch source
What Is The Purpose Of My Medicare Number And Card
Bring your Medicare card with you to any doctors appointment or hospital visit with any healthcare
practitioner. Similarly, please keep it on hand whether you intend to see a doctor.
For claim and billing purposes, a beneficiarys Medicare number is used to identify them. Furthermore,
keeping the red, white, and blue Medicare card on hand will make an emergency health issue easier.
Read Also: When Does Medicare Start Age
Read Also: Does Medicare Cover Companion Care
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.
For Insurance Quotes By Phonetty 711 Mon
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.
MedicareInsurance.com, DBA of Health Insurance Associates LLC, is privately owned and operated. MedicareInsurance.com is a non-government asset for people on Medicare, providing resources in easy to understand format. The government Medicare site is www.medicare.gov.
This website and its contents are for informational purposes only and should not be a substitute for experienced medical advice. We recommend consulting with your medical provider regarding diagnosis or treatment, including choices about changes to medication, treatments, diets, daily routines, or exercise.
This communications purpose is insurance solicitation. A licensed insurance agent/producer or insurance company will contact you. Medicare Supplement insurance plans are not linked with or sanctioned by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.
MULTIPLAN_GHHK5LLEN_2023
Don’t Miss: Does Medicare Pay For Hospice At Home
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.
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.
Recommended Reading: How Much Does Medicare Pay For A Doctors Office Visit
Don’t Miss: How To Request A Replacement Medicare Card
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
If this isnt your situation, you can complete an application to copy or transfer from one Medicare card to another form.
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.
Also Check: Does Medicare Pay For Assisted Living Care
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.
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
Don’t Miss: When Does Your Medicare Start
Can You Still See Your Doctor If You Lose Your Card
You should be able to. If your doctors office has a recent copy of your Medicare card, they may already have your Medicare information on file. Many health practices update their records annually and may ask for your card.
Sometimes doctors can look up your Medicare information without requiring your card if they have access to the Medicare Administrative Contractor portal. Youll need to provide your full legal name, birthday and SSN.7
Also Check: How Do I Qualify For Medicare Low Income Subsidy
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.
Recommended Reading: What Is A Medicare Advantage Plan Part C
What Else Is On My Medicare Card And Why Is It Important
In addition to your Medicare number, your Medicare card lists other vital information pertaining to your Medicare enrollment status, including your possible enrollment in Medicare Part A, the standard hospital insurance portion of Medicare Medicare Part B, the standard medical insurance portion of Medicare Medicare Part C , which may offer additional coverage tailored specifically to you or Medicare Part D, which includes coverage for any Medicare drug plan you may be enrolled in.
In addition, your Medicare card will state your name and sex. The card also lists your Medicare start date under the various parts of Medicare you may be enrolled in .
Prior to use, you must sign your name to your Medicare card.
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.
You May Like: Can You Have Two Medicare Advantage Plans
Don’t Miss: Is My Medicare Number My Social Security Number
S To Getting Your Own Online Medicare Account
1. Start by going to the Create an account page at Medicare.gov. Type in your Medicare number and your Part A or Part B start date, which you can find on your Medicare card.
If you dont have a Medicare card yet, you can get your Medicare number by logging in to your online Social Security account. Return to the Medicare page to fill in the form. Then click Next.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
2. Type in your last name, birth date, zip code and email address or click the box if you dont have an email address. Check boxes agreeing that the information is correct and abiding by the terms and conditions and click Next.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
3. Create a username and password. The guidelines for creating a username and password are in the column to the right. Also set up a secret question and answer to secure the account. Then click Create Account.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
4. Go to Medicare.gov. Sign in to your online Medicare account by clicking Log in at the top right of your screen. Youll be taken to the log-in page. And you can bookmark the page to go directly there in the future.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
What Else Can An Online Medicare Account Help Me Do
Setting up an online Medicare account gives you access to a lot of information and resources about your Medicare coverage and claims. In addition to paying premiums and keeping track of your medications, youll be able to:
- Find out about your preventive benefits. You can track the preventive services youve used and get a list of Medicare-covered tests and screenings youre eligible for in original Medicare.
- Get a copy of your annual Medicare & You handbook. You can go into your online Medicare account | My account settings | Edit my communication preferences and sign up to receive the Medicare & You handbook electronically instead of in the mail.
- Print replacement Medicare cards. You can log in to your online Medicare account to print a copy of your official Medicare card.
Keep in mind
- This applies to original Medicare. Some services, such as online claims information, are available only for people who have original Medicare. If you have coverage through a private Medicare Advantage plan, you may be able to sign up with your plan to receive your Explanation of Benefits notices and review your claims online.
- Part D is separate. You also cannot review your Part D prescription plan claims in your Medicare account because you buy it through a private insurer. You may be able to sign up with your plan to receive your Explanation of Benefits notices and review your claims online.
You May Like: Will Medicare Pay For A Roho Cushion
Can I Review Medicare Claims Faster With An Online Account
Yes, if youve chosen original Medicare, you can review your Medicare claims for Parts A and B in your online account within 24 hours of their being processed without waiting for your quarterly Medicare summary notice. Being able to review your claims quickly can help you spot errors or potential fraud.
Search claims by date range, claim type or claim number. Youll see the service date, provider and type of each claim, the Medicare-approved amount, what Medicare paid, and what you may be billed. The amount you may be billed may then be covered through a Medigap, retiree or other supplemental plan.
Eliminate extra paper. You can look at your Medicare summary notice, which includes a separate claims report for your Part A hospitalization and Part B doctors and outpatient services claims from the past three months. You can opt out of the mailed version, sign up to get electronic Medicare summary notices and receive email every month you use Medicare services.
How To Replace Your Medicare Card
If you lost your Medicare card, have no fear. You havent lost your health insurance, and replacing your card is easy.
You can order your new card online by logging into your Social Security account. Simply visit the Social Security website, SSA.gov. Once youve logged in:
Be sure to verify your mailing address before you send the card. You can also print an official copy of your Medicare card to use while you wait.
If you want to speak to a person, you can call in your request. Call phone number 1-800-MEDICARE or TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048. Follow the prompts when you call. The typical wait time is very short. And the customer service representatives are helpful and courteous.
Finally, if you want to order your card in person, you can. Youll need to go to your local Social Security Administration office. Most are open Monday through Friday.
Read Also: What Is Medicare Advantage Part C
Provider Requests And Questions Regarding Claims Payment
MACs, intermediaries, and carriers will continue to process claims submitted for primary or secondary payment. Claims processing is not a function of the BCRC. Questions concerning how to bill for payment should continue to be directed to your local Medicare claims paying office. In addition, continue to return inappropriate Medicare payments to the local Medicare claims office checks should not be sent to the BCRC. Questions regarding Medicare claim or service denials and adjustments should continue to be directed to your local Medicare claims office. If a provider submits a claim on behalf of a beneficiary and there is an indication of MSP, but not sufficient information to disprove the existence of MSP, the claim will be investigated by the BCRC. This investigation will be performed with the provider or supplier that submitted the claim. The goal of MSP information gathering and investigation is to identify MSP situations quickly and accurately, thus ensuring correct primary and secondary payments by the responsible party.
