What Is Medicare Red White And Blue Card

Using Your Medicare Card

Youll need to have your Medicare card with you any time you have any medical-related visits or services. This is true even if you have Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage or Medigap supplemental insurance.

Your regular doctor may make a copy of your card on your first visit so they will have it readily available on file. But pharmacies, testing labs, some doctors and other health care providers will require you to show it on each visit.

Be sure to let your doctor or other health care provider know if youve received a replacement or updated Medicare card. They will need the new information.

Is Medicare Sending Out New Medicare Cards

Medicare isn’t issuing new cards and Medicare employees don’t contact participants through unsolicited calls, emails, or visits. Medicare communicates with beneficiaries via mail. Scammers falsely allege Medicare is issuing new plastic or metal Medicare cards or black and white Covid-19 Medicare cards.

Should I Carry My Medicare Card With Me

You should bring your Medicare card along any time youre visiting a provider to receive medical treatment or going to a pharmacy to fill a prescription or when you go to a hospital. Otherwise, its a good idea to store your Medicare card in a secure place, like a filing cabinet or safe.

Youll use your Original Medicare card to fill prescriptions only if they are covered by Medicare Part B . In all other cases, youll use your Part D prescription drug plan when filling prescriptions.

You should not share that card with anyone in a non-medical capacity. For example, your bank does not need a copy of your Medicare card. Remember, even though Medicare cards no longer list Social Security numbers, they still contain personal information, like your unique Medicare ID number, so be careful about who sees that card. Keep in mind that Medicare will not call you over the phone asking you to confirm your personal ID number. If someone calls asking for that, assume its a scam.

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Are You Supposed To Get A New Medicare Card Every Year

It is not the same number as the one used for Social Security. Healthcare providers use the Medicare number on the card to bill services. Generally, a person does not have to renew their Medicare card each year, as it will automatically renew. If a card is lost, stolen, or damaged people can get a new card at no cost.

What Documents Do I Need To Provide The Ssa To Get A New Card

You may need to provide one or more of the following documents for the SSA or Medicare to verify your identity:

Depending on how you request your replacement card or a new card you may not have to provide those documents. But have them on hand just in case.

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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.

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.

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Is Medicare At 65 Automatic

If youre approaching retirement age, you want to know if you automatically get Medicare when you turn 65. If you qualify for Medicare, and collect Social Security retirement or Disability benefits, then youll automatically be enrolled into Part A and Part B of Medicare.

Your red white and blue Medicare card will be in the mail to you about 3 months before your 65th birthday.

What Cards Do I Use If I Have Medicare A And B

• Your original Medicare card

Your Medicare card provides proof that you Medicare eligible and enrolled in the Medicare program. Your Medicare card is red, white and blue. The card also shows your effective dates of coverage and which parts of Medicare you are enrolled in . This is the only card you will need to provide when checking in for a doctors appointment, medical facility or hospital if the only coverage you have is original Medicare Part A and/or Part B. Typically, since original Medicare does not cover but a select few prescription medications, your original Medicare card is not needed when you go to a pharmacy to get prescriptions. Most prescriptions that are covered under original Medicare Part B are for medications administered in a medical facility or doctors office, such as injections.

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When Will I Receive My Medicare Card

Medicare eligibility begins for most people at age 65. If youre collecting Social Security benefits beforehand , youll be automatically signed up for Medicare Part A, and you should receive your Medicare card in the mail about three months prior to your 65th birthday. Meanwhile, if you qualify for Medicare because of a disability, youll get your card in the mail about three months before your 25th month of receiving Social Security Disability Insurance benefits.

If you need to sign up for Medicare yourself youll generally get your card in the mail within 30 days of enrolling.

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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Medicare Part C And Medicare Part D Cards

Because Medicare Advantage and Medicare prescription drug coverage are available through private insurers, you will get a different card from the insurance company. This card will look different from the red, white, and blue Medicare card you received for your Original Medicare coverage. The card will include the name of the private insurer and possibly a logo indicating your plan type.

If your Medicare Advantage plan includes prescription drug coverage, you may have a single card for all your medical and prescription drug needs. You will only need to present your Medicare Advantage Plan ID card to your doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies therefore it is a good idea to leave your Medicare card at home or in a safe place.

If you have both Original Medicare and Medicare Part D, you will have two separate identification cards, one for each type of coverage. Contact your private insurer if you have any questions about your identification card.

Would you like to take a look at some of the Medicare plans available in your area? Just enter your zip code in the box on this page to display a list and start comparing plans.

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Can I View My Medicare Account Online

MyMedicare.gov is Medicare’s 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.

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How Does Medicare Card Replacement Work

If your card has been lost damaged or stolen you can replace it. Once you replace your card your previous card cannot be used. You should destroy that card and make sure no one can read the information.

Your replacement card will be mailed to you once your request has been processed. Depending on how you requested the replacement you may have to provide proof of your identity.

Protect Your Medicare Number Like A Credit Card

Only give personal information, like your Medicare Number, to health care providers, your insurance companies or health plans , or people you trust that work with Medicare, like your State Health Insurance Assistance Program .

Say no to scams

Medicare will never call you uninvited and ask you to give us personal or private information. Learn more about the limited situations in which Medicare can call you.

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If You Do Not Qualify For Automatic Enrollment Youll Get Your Medicare Id Card Once You Complete Enrolling In Original Medicare Youll Need To Enroll Yourself If Any Of The Below Are True For You

• If you are turning 65 and are not receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits. Coverage usually begins the first day of your birthday month. If your birthday is on the first day of the month, coverage usually starts the month prior.
• If you have End-Stage Renal Disease Permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant., you will receive your Medicare ID card once you complete your Original Medicare enrollment. Coverage starts the first month your disability begins.
• If you live in Puerto Rico and receive social security benefits from Railroad Retirement Benefits, you are automatically eligible for Part A. If you also want Part B, you need to apply for it. You will receive your new Medicare ID card once you complete your Part B enrollment. Fill out this Application for Enrollment in Part B.

About My Medicare Card

Although your Medicare card may look a little confusing at first, there is nothing about it that you should not understand with ease! Here is all you need to know about your red, white, and blue Medicare card.

• 1-800-MEDICARE is the toll-free number to call if you have any questions or concerns about your Medicare account.

• NAME OF BENEFICIARY refers to the name of the individual to whom the card is issued. If you are Medicare-eligible due to another family members payment into the Medicare system or another family members disability, it is your name, and not that family members, that should be on your card. Under Name of Beneficiary should be your full name exactly as it appears on your Social Security card.

• IS ENTITLED TO refers to the part or parts of Original Medicare that you are enrolled in. This section indicates whether you are enrolled in Medicare Part A, Medicare Part B, or both. If you enroll in Medicare Part C or Medicare Part D , you will receive a separate card confirming your enrollment in that plan. Enrollment in Medicare Part C or Medicare Part D will not be indicated on your red, white, and blue Medicare card.EFFECTIVE DATE indicates the month, day, and year your Medicare coverage began.

• You must sign your card on this line.

The back of your Medicare card has a few handy reminders but no personal information about you.

Read more about Medicare cards in our Senior Living Blog and Learning Center

About My Medicare Card © 2013 MedicareMall.com

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How Do I Get A Red White And Blue Social Security Card

Getting a Medicare card starts with a phone call:

Questionable Charges On Your Medicare Account

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.

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How Do You Check If I Have Medicare

You will know if you have Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan by checking your enrollment status. Your enrollment status shows the name of your plan, what type of coverage you have, and how long you’ve had it. You can check your status online at www.mymedicare.gov or call Medicare at 1-800-633-4227.

Should I Sign Up For Medical Insurance

With our online application, you can sign up for Medicare Part A and Part B . Because you must pay a premium for Part B coverage, you can turn it down.

If youre eligible at age 65, your initial enrollment period begins three months before your 65th birthday, includes the month you turn age 65, and ends three months after that birthday.

If you choose not to enroll in Medicare Part B and then decide to do so later, your coverage could be delayed and you may have to pay a higher monthly premium for as long as you have Part B. Your monthly premium will go up 10 percent for each 12-month period you were eligible for Part B, but didnt sign up for it, unless you qualify for a “” .

If you dont enroll in Medicare Part B during your initial enrollment period, you have another chance each year to sign up during a general enrollment period from January 1 through March 31. Your coverage begins on July 1 of the year you enroll. Read our publication for more information.

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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.

If Youre New To Medicare

Youll have to manually apply for Medicare if:

• You live in Puerto Rico. You may get automatically enrolled in Part A as described above, but youll need to sign up for Part B.
• You arent receiving retirement benefits yet.
• You have end-stage renal disease .

If you have end-stage renal disease , you can apply for Medicare at any time. Otherwise, youre first eligible to enroll during your seven-month Initial Enrollment Period, which typically starts three months before you turn 65, includes the month of your 65th birthday, and ends three months later. When your Medicare coverage begins and when you get your Medicare card depends on the month you sign up during this period.

If you dont enroll in Medicare during your Initial Enrollment Period, in most cases youll have to wait until the General Enrollment Period, which takes place from January to March 31 every year. You may have to pay a late-enrollment penalty for Medicare Part B .

Some people decide to delay Medicare Part B enrollment if they have other coverage, since Part B comes with a premium. If youre working and have health coverage through an employer, you can sign up for Part B with a Special Enrollment Period when you stop working or that coverage ends. You wont have to pay a late enrollment penalty if you sign up during a Special Enrollment Period.

If you worked for a railroad, youd apply for Medicare through the Railroad Retirement Board. Otherwise, youd sign up through Social Security.

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How To Protect Your Medicare Card

Medicare cards are made from paper, so they are likely to wear out from use over time. It is up to you to protect your card to keep it in good condition. You also need to safeguard your card to prevent identity theft of your Medicare information.

Some people consider laminating their card to protect it from wear and tear. The Social Security Administration does not recommend doing that, however, because laminating the card may interfere with its security features. Instead, use a clear plastic cardholder or sleeve to protect it from damage and keep it visible for your providers.

The Social Security Administration also suggests you consider photocopying your card. Keep the copy in a safe location, such as a lockbox or safe deposit box with other important documents.

You should also keep important numbers, including the Medicare phone number and the contact details for Medicare Advantage or Medigap providers, handy and in a safe place.