Admin
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.
