42 THE QUEENS COURIER • HEALTH • NOVEMBER 1, 2018 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
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Millions of People with Medicare Are Getting New, More Secure Cards
Millions of people with Medicare will
receive new, more secure Medicare cards
in the mail in 2018. Th e new cards replace
Social Security Number-based Medicare
numbers with a new unique, personalized
Medicare Number, known as the
Medicare Benefi ciary Identifi er. Each person
with Medicare will have his or her
own number. Th e cards will be mailed
automatically, free of charge, and there
will be no changes to Medicare users’ current
benefi ts.
Th e new Medicare cards no longer contain
a person’s Social Security number,
but rather a unique, randomly-assigned
Medicare number that protects people’s
identity, helps reduce fraud and off ers
better safeguards of important health and
fi nancial information. Removing Social
Security Numbers from Medicare cards is
one of the ways the Centers for Medicare
& Medicaid Services (CMS) is helping
to protect the identities of people with
Medicare. Th e unique Medicare Number
not only increases protections from fraud
for people with Medicare, it also makes it
harder for criminals to use Social Security
Numbers to falsely bill Medicare for care
services and benefi ts that were never performed.
CMS is mailing the new Medicare cards
in geographic waves. Th is means people
with Medicare may not get their new
card at the same time as their friends
or neighbors. People with Medicare and
their caregivers can visit medicare.gov/
newcard to fi nd out when cards will
be mailed to their areas. Th ey can also
sign up for email notifi cations about the
card-mailing and check the card-mailing
status in their states. As soon as people
receive their new Medicare cards, they
should safely and securely destroy their
old Medicare cards and start using their
new cards right away.
Make note of these facts to help ensure
a smooth transition to your new card.
1. Your card will have a new Medicare
Number that’s unique to you, instead of
your Social Security Number. Th is can
help protect your identity and keep your
personal information more secure.
2. Your card will automatically come to
you at no cost. You don’t need to do anything
as long as your address is up-todate.
If you need to update your address,
visit socialsecurity.gov/myaccount.
3. You can fi nd out when your card is
mailing by signing up for email notifi cations
at Medicare.gov/NewCard.
4. Your Medicare coverage and benefi ts
will stay the same.
5. Mailing takes time, and Medicare will
mail the new cards by April 2019. Your
card may arrive at a diff erent time than
your friend’s or neighbor’s.
6. Once you get your new Medicare
card, destroy your old Medicare card
and start using your new one right away.
Rather than simply throwing the old card
away, shred it or cut it into small pieces.
7. Your card will be paper and not
laminated, which makes it easier for
many providers to use and copy for their
records.
8. If you’re in a Medicare Advantage
Plan (like an HMO or PPO), your
Medicare Advantage Plan ID card is your
main card for Medicare. You should still
keep and use it whenever you need care.
However, you also may be asked to show
your new Medicare card, so you should
carry this card, too.
9. Doctors, other health care providers
and facilities know your new card is coming
and will ask for your new Medicare
card when you need care, so carry it with
you.
10. Only give your new Medicare
Number to doctors, pharmacists, other
health care providers, your insurers or
people you trust to work with Medicare
on your behalf. Treat your Medicare
Number like you treat your credit card
numbers. Medicare will never contact
you uninvited to ask for personal information.
Courtesy Family Features