New Medicare Cards are Coming

Starting in April 2018, people with Medicare will receive

new insurance cards displaying a unique Medicare Beneficiary

Identifier (MBI) in place of the current Health Insurance Claim

Number (HICN), which to date was the Medicare recipient’s

social security number.

This change will help protect against identity theft and illega l

use of Medicare benefits.

Mailing new cards to all people with Medicare is a big job. If

you have Medicare,you can expect to receive your new card

anytime between April 2018 and April 2019. Please note that

your card may show up at a different time than your neighbor’s.

You should continue using your current card until the new

card arrives. After receiving the new card, you may start using

it immediately. Be sure to destroy the old card in a way that

does not allow the information to be retrieved (ie: shred it).

Avoid scams:

• Your new card is free; never pay anyone or

any organization for your new card.

• Medicare will never call and ask for your information; do

not give your personal information to anyone who calls.

• The new Medicare numbers won’t change benefits; it is

a scam if anyone threatens a change in your benefits.

Finally, make sure your mailing address is current. To correct

your address, contact Social Security at ssa.gov/myaccount

or 800-772-1213. TTY, call 800-325-0778.