By Sara Duris
Q. My Medicare card has been water-damaged. How do I get a new one?
A. You can get a replacement card by logging into or creating a Medicare account to order or print an official copy of your Medicare card, or you can call to request one. Contact 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) 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 (RRB) benefits, you can call 1-877-772-5772 to get a replacement card. TTY users can call 1-312-751-4701.
Creating an online Medicare account at www.Medicare.gov is fairly simple and has several advantages including giving you the ability to track claim status and payments made, get early access to important documents such as your Medicare Summary Notice and yearly Medicare and You guide, receiving alerts and updates about your plan and benefits, and the ability to update your personal information.
You can now create or log in to your secure Medicare account using ID.me, CLEAR®, or Login.gov. These are free, secure services that verify your identity and are used by multiple government websites including the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Office of Veterans Affairs. Verifying your identity helps prevent fraud and ensures you are the only one who can access your information. Each Medicare account needs a unique email address. Don’t use an email address you share with someone else to create your Medicare account.
If you already have a Medicare account, you can connect that account to one of these secure services. Important: Once you connect your existing Medicare account with one of these identity verification services, you can no longer log in to your Medicare account using your existing Medicare username or password.
If you need a new card due to a name change, you need to contact Social Security first because Medicare uses the name and address on file with SSA.
Q. Should I carry my paper Medicare and Social Security cards with me all the time? Is it ok to get them laminated?
A. In a word, the answer to both questions is no. The SSA discourages individuals from carrying their card with them regularly due to the high risk of identity theft. However, there can be good reasons to carry your health insurance card on your person some of the time. Neither your Social Security card nor your Medicare red, white and blue paper card should be laminated. Doing so can interfere with security features and scanning abilities. Both SSA and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) encourage individuals to carry their cards in a plastic sleeve or card holder to prevent damage.
Your Social Security Number (SSN) is a foundational identifier that cannot be changed, unlike bank account numbers or credit card numbers, which makes its compromise particularly damaging. Identity thieves can use a stolen SSN to open new lines of credit, apply for loans, and file fraudulent tax returns in the victim’s name. They can also use the number to access government benefits, like unemployment insurance or medical services, creating a complex legal and financial burden. Keep your actual card in a secure location where it can be accessed if needed for such things as new employment or applying for government benefits.
The CMS have these recommendations for card use and security:
- If you have Original Medicare, carry your Medicare card with you when you’re away from home and show your Medicare card to your doctor, hospital, or other health care provider when you get services.
- If you have a Medicare drug plan, supplemental coverage, or Medicaid carry that plan card with you too.
- If you join a Medicare Advantage Plan or other Medicare health plan you will use your plan’s card to get services, not your Medicare card. Keep your Medicare card in a safe place in case you switch plans or go back to Original Medicare later.
Only give personal information, like your Medicare Number, to health care providers, your insurance companies or health plans (and their licensed agents or brokers), or people you trust that work with Medicare, like your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) a state program funded by the federal government to give free local health insurance counseling to people with Medicare. Area Agency on Aging has trained SHIP counselors available to answer your questions about coverage and help with open enrollment from October to December each year. Contact 269-408-4354 for information.
Sara Duris is the Professional Referral Specialist on the Information & Access Team at Region IV Area Agency on Aging. The Generations column appears each weekend in The Herald-Palladium.