Wednesday, March 20, 2024

Is Medicare Changing Their Cards

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When Will You Get Your New Medicare Card

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New Medicare cards 2018 will be mailed out on a staggered scheduled in seven waves based on geographical regions. The first mailing group for April and June includes Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

The second wave includes the Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, and U.S. territories. The other five groups will be mailed out in June. If you do not have your new card, dont worry. The transition period lasts from April 2018 until December 2019, so you dont need your MIB until then.

You can use your old card until then but should start using your new one as soon as you receive it, as businesses are required to accept your new Medicare number on April 1, 2018.

What Will The New Cards Look Like

The appearance of the new cards will be similar to your current card. It will be a paper card in red, white and blue. In place of your social security number, you will be given a unique 11-character identifier that will be called your Medicare Beneficiary Identifier or MBI. The MBI will consist of a randomly generated combination of numbers and uppercase letters. No special characters will be used.

The new card will feature a solid blue border at the top rather than the red, white and blue stripes seen on the old card. Another notable change there will be no signature line at the bottom

How Do You Get Another Medicare Card

My card is lost or damaged Log into your secure Medicare account to print or order an official copy of your Medicare card. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE to order a replacement card to be sent in the mail. TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048.

If you get Railroad Retirement Board benefits, you can call 1-877-772-5772 to get a replacement card. TTY users can call 1-312-751-4701.

My name changed Your Medicare card shows the name you have on file with Social Security. Get details from Social Security if you legally changed your name.

Protect your identity

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New Medicare Cards Are Coming

In 2015, Congress passed the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act. The Act required the Federal Government to stop using social security numbers as identifiers on Medicare cards. Growing awareness of the dramatic increase in identity theft and fraud scams prompted Congress to legislate this change.

When your social security number is on your Medicare card, every employee of every health care provider, lab, and pharmacy you use has the key to your identity and financial life. That also goes for health information processing centers. The hope is the new Medicare cards will eliminate thieves using Medicare cards for identity theft.

What Is Considered Medicare Part D

Your Medicare card

Medicare Part D, the prescription drug benefit, is the part of Medicare that covers most outpatient prescription drugs. Part D is offered through private companies either as a stand-alone plan, for those enrolled in Original Medicare, or as a set of benefits included with your Medicare Advantage Plan.

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Your Medicare Card Medicar

  • als arent backing down during the pandemic. Here are some red flags to look out for
  • Full List of Medicare Scams Below. The range of schemes could be: Medicare scam calls, Medicare genetic testing, bogus medical alert systems, Medicare Advantage scam, fake medical alert devices, Medicare Coverage Helpline scam, and many other types of Medicare abuse. There are many cases where patients like yourself dont know the whole story.
  • It generally can take up to 30 days for your new Medicare ID card to arrive by mail. Therefore, it is important to begin the card renewal process in ample time, prior to your current cards expiration date. Cards for Medicare Part C and Part D. Because Medicare Part C and Medicare Part D are.
  • A nurse checks a womans blood pressure at St Vincents hospital in Sydney. Medicare rebate changes will affect how much the government pays for hundreds of health services
  • 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

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    News Result For New Medicare Plastic Cards

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    Iowa Medicare Beneficiaries Targeted By Medicare Card Scams

    Medicare Part B 2023

    Des Moines Iowa seniors and Medicare beneficiaries are encouraged to be aware of current Medicare card scams in our state. To learn more about Medicare scams impacting Iowans, register for our live event on Friday, April 23, 2021 at 1:30 p.m. at .

    Its important for Iowans to protect their Medicare number and not give it to unknown callers, SHIIP/SMP Director Kristin Griffith said. Medicare will rarely contact you by phone, and if so, you can also hang up and call Medicare back to confirm that the call is legitimate and not a scam.

    Medicare scams include the following:

    If you suspect Medicare fraud, errors, or abuse contact Iowa SHIIP/Senior Medicare Patrol at 1-800-351-4664 or www.smp.iowa.gov.

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    How Much Is The Medicare Part A Coinsurance For 2023

    The Part A deductible covers the enrollees first 60 inpatient days during a benefit period. If the person needs additional inpatient coverage during that same benefit period, theres a daily coinsurance charge. For 2023, it will be $400 per day for the 61st through 90th day of inpatient care . The coinsurance for lifetime reserve days is $800 per day in 2022, up from $778 per day in 2022.

    When Should You Carry Your Medicare Card

    Its a good idea to carry your Medicare card with you whenever youre away from home. You will need to show it to doctors, hospital staff and other healthcare providers whenever you are seeking care.1

    If you dont want to bring it with you to a health appointment, you can call ahead and ask the doctors office if theyll need a copy of the card.

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    Criminals Follow The News

    Medicare, the federal health insurance program for people 65 and older and people with disabilities, has been a target of criminals since it started in July 1965. With more than 62 million current Medicare recipients, it’s a target-rich environment for liars, cheats and thieves. Medicare cards were changed beginning in 2018, when an 11-digit alphanumeric account numbers called Medicare Beneficiary Identifiers , replaced the 9-digit Social Security numbers that had identified enrollees.

    Scammers are on the move, developing ways to take advantage of any confusion that may be related to the transition, the Federal Communications Commission warned as the new cards were being rolled out. Some scammers asked beneficiaries to pay for a new card others threatened to cancel people’s health coverage if they didn’t share their new number. The FCC said then that stolen data could be used to file fake claims or fill prescriptions or be sold on the dark web, where crooks buy and sell things.

    Grossman, the assistant attorney general, urges consumers to be skeptical about unsolicited contacts. Never believe it when someone reaches out and says they’re with the Social Security Administration or Medicare, because it is likely not true, he said. They wouldn’t call you out of the blue. Instead call a real phone number for Medicare, either its regional or national headquarters in Washington, he advised.

    Tips For Using Your New Medicare Card

    Changes to the Medicare ID Format Now Required · StrataPT

    The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services offers tips to people with Medicare on how to use your new card and what to do if you need a replacement card.

    • Be sure to show your new Medicare card at the doctorâs office or medical facility. Your health care providers need your MBI number so that they can do routine things with Medicare, such as file medical claims on your behalf.
    • If you are enrolled in a , be sure to carry your Part D Plan card and show it at the pharmacy when you pick up prescriptions.
    • If you are enrolled in a , the Medicare Advantage planâs card is your main card for health care services. Be sure to carry your Medicare Advantage plan card and show it whenever you receive care.
    • Even if you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan or a Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan, providers may ask to see your new Medicare card to record your MBI. You may want to carry your Medicare card. If you donât, you or your provider can look up your MBI. You can log into www.mymedicare.gov to get your MBI once you have set up an account. Your doctorâs office can access a secure web site portal hosted by the regional Medicare Administrative Contractor to get your MBI.
    • You can call 800-MEDICARE 24 hours a day 7 days a week if you didnât receive your new Medicare card or you need a replacement. You can also go online and log into your mymedicare.gov account and print a copy of your new Medicare card.

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    New Medicare Cards Will Protect 60 Million Americans From Identity Theft

    Attention, if you are enrolled in Medicare then you can expect a new Medicare card in the mail soon. In fact, over 60 million Medicare cards are being sent out as a result of the new Medicare number change.

    UPDATE: All replacement cards have been shipped. If you need to replace a Medicare card, call 1-800-MEDICARE or online at My Social Security.

    The new cards will be placed in the mail by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services beginning in April, but outreach for this campaign has already started to ensure a smooth transition for everyone involved. As a Medicare-dependent, you do not have to worry, about this change. Everything is being taken care of for you.

    Visit Your Local Social Security Office

    Do I need to visit my Local Social Security Office? Visiting your local Social Security office isnt normally the most convenient way to apply for Medicare card replacement, but it may be the best way to get proof that youre covered by Medicare if you need to present such evidence immediately to a health service provider. You can also apply for your replacement card at your local Social Security office, but if you plan to do so you can expect long lines or waiting periods at some Social Security offices.

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    Why Are You Not Supposed To Laminate Your Medicare Card

    The Social Security department advises against card lamination in general because the card may have built-in security features that could be compromised by lamination. As an alternative, for a few dollars at your local business supply store, you can purchase a plastic ID card holder to protect your Medicare card.

    Protect The New Card Number

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    People with Medicare should guard their new card like it is a credit card and only give their Medicare Number to people they know should have it. Medicare, or someone representing Medicare, will never contact people with Medicare to ask for their Medicare Number or other personal information unless they have been given specific permission in advance.

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    How Much Is The Part B Deductible For 2023

    The Part B deductible for 2022 is $233, and its . This is the first time the Part B deductible has decreased since 2012.

    Some enrollees have supplemental coverage that pays their Part B deductible. This includes Medicaid, employer-sponsored plans, and Medigap plans C and F. But since the beginning of 2020, Medigap plans C and F have no longer been available to newly-eligible enrollees . The ban on the sale of Medigap plans that cover the Part B deductible for new enrollees was part of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 . Its an effort to curb utilization by ensuring that enrollees incur some out-of-pocket costs when they receive medical care.

    Many Medicare Advantage plans have low copays and deductibles that dont necessarily increase in lockstep with the Part B deductible, so their benefits designs have had different fluctuations over the last few years.

    Is The Medicare Advantage Out

    Medicare Advantage plans are required to cap enrollees out-of-pocket costs for Part A and Part B services . The cap does not include the cost of prescription drugs, since those are covered under Medicare Part D .

    For several years, the cap was $6,700, although most plans have had out-of-pocket caps below that level. For 2021 and 2022, the maximum out-of-pocket limit for Medicare Advantage plans increased to $7,550 . For 2023, the cap is increasing to $8,300. But most Advantage plans will continue to have out-of-pocket caps below the governments maximum.

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    Personal Questions And Many Of Them

    Unfortunately, this widow gave the scammer her Medicare number, which officials say should only be provided to health care professionals whom you trust, such as doctors, pharmacists and insurers.

    “To take advantage of somebody who is older, that’s disgraceful, said Jennifer Wolff, 64, the victim’s sister, who alerted AARP’s Fraud Watch Network helpline, 1-877-908-3360, about the scam. The victim is not being identified for this story.

    Wolff knew the caller was a scammer from the get-go. She works with a local hospital and community health center, visiting older folks in their homes to ensure they have the services and equipment they need. Her work led her to suspect that the caller asked about her sister’s physical attributes, such as her height, weight and pants size, because he wanted to cheat the government by billing for unneeded durable medical equipment .

    Kidney Transplant Recipients Can Use Part B Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage For Life

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    Historically, Medicare coverage for kidney transplant recipients has only lasted for 36 months after the transplant. But as of 2023, thats no longer the case. After 36 months, kidney transplant recipients will be able to continue to have limited Medicare Part B coverage for immunosuppressive drugs. This wont be full Medicare Part B, but it will cover the medications that transplant recipients must take for the rest of their lives in order to prevent their bodies from rejecting the transplanted kidney.

    As of 2023, the cost for Part B that only covers immunosuppressive drugs is $97.10/month . Once the person turns 65, or becomes eligible for Medicare based on a disability, they can transition back to full Medicare coverage.

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    Hard Facts About Medicare

    Here are some important things for seniors to know about how Medicare and the Social Security Administration function.

    • Medicare generally wont call you, except in limited circumstances. One such exception is if you have called 1-800-MEDICARE and requested a return call.
    • Medicare will never call or come to your home uninvited to sell products or services.
    • SSA representatives may call Medicare beneficiaries if they need more information to process applications for Social Security benefits or enrollment in certain Medicare Plans, but, again, this is rare.
    • If a phone call is needed, youll receive an official letter from the SSA to arrange a telephone interview.
    • Medicare cards do not expire, so be wary of someone saying they need to send you a new one.
    • If your card is lost or destroyed, contact the SSA directly to request a replacement. If you think someone else is fraudulently using your Medicare card, then call Medicare directly at 1-800-MEDICARE .

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    Medicare Starts Replacing Social Security Numbers On Id Cards

    Medicare beneficiaries are getting new ID cards soon that won’t carry their Social Security numbers, the Health and Human Services Department said Tuesday.

    Congress had told HHS to get the cards replaced by 2019 to fight identity theft. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services said people will start getting new cards next April.

    “Personal identity theft affects a large and growing number of seniors,” CMS said in a statement.

    “People age 65 or older are increasingly the victims of this type of crime. Incidents among seniors increased to 2.6 million from 2.1 million between 2012 and 2014, according to the most current statistics from the Department of Justice.”

    Medicare, the federal health insurance plan for people over 65, covers about 57 million Americans.

    “The Medicare Beneficiary Identifier is confidential like the SSN and should be protected as personally identifiable information,” CMS said. The new identifier will be 11 characters long and will include letters and numbers.

    Maggie Fox is a senior writer for NBC News and TODAY, covering health policy, science, medical treatments and disease.

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