By now, our senior clients should have received their new Medicare card — with your new Medicare Number.  

• When you’re enrolled in Medicare, you’ll get your red, white, and blue Medicare card in the mail. If you're automatically enrolled, you'll get your red, white, and blue Medicare card in the mail 3 months before your 65th birthday or your 25th month of getting disability benefits. Your Medicare card shows that you have Medicare health insurance. It shows whether you have Part A (Hospital Insurance), Part B (Medical Insurance) or both, and it shows the date your coverage starts.

Be sure to carry your card with you when you’re away from home. Let your doctor, hospital, or other health care provider see your card when you need hospital, medical or other health services.

If you’re in a Medicare Advantage Plan (like an HMO or PPO) or a Medicare Drug Plan, use that Plan ID card whenever you need care or prescriptions. However, you should also carry your Medicare card — you may be asked to show it so your doctor can make sure your new number is in their system. 

Bring your card to any appointments with your doctors, so they have your new number in their systems. Doing so will help us process your claims.

Note: You can only use your old card and Medicare Number to get health care services until December 31, 2019. You can always print your official new Medicare card and find your Medicare Number with your MyMedicare.gov account.

5 things to know about your Medicare card

1. Your card has a Medicare Number that’s unique to you, instead of your Social Security Number. This helps to protect your identity. 
2. Your card is paper, which is easier for many providers to use and copy.
3. 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. And, if you have a Medicare drug plan, be sure to keep that card as well.  Even if you use one of these other cards, you also may be asked to show your Medicare card, so keep it with you.
4. Only give your Medicare Number to doctors, pharmacists, other health care providers, your insurers, or people you trust to work with Medicare on your behalf.
5. If you forget your card, you, your doctor or other health care provider may be able to look up your Medicare Number online.

Watch out for scams

Medicare will never call you uninvited and ask you to give us personal or private information.

Scam artists may try to get personal information, like your Medicare Number. If someone asks you for your information, for money, or threatens to cancel your health benefits if you don’t share your personal information, hang up and call us at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).  Learn more about the limited situations in which Medicare can call you.

Source: Medicare.gov - Your Medicare card