Avoid Medicare Card Scams

This April, Medicare will begin to issue new Medicare cards to all beneficiaries. To help protect your identity, these new cards will no longer contain your Social Security number. Instead, Medicare will assign you a unique number that will be used for doctor visits and medical claims. As new cards start to get sent out, scammers might try to take advantage of this transition. The following is some information to help you from getting caught up in a Medicare card scam:

• Your new card will be sent directly to your mailing address. If you need to update your address, call Social Security at 800-722-1213 or visit ssa.gov/myaccount.
• If you receive a phone call, email or text offering to help with this transition, ignore the offer. Don’t provide or verify any personal information to an unsolicited caller or written request.
• New cards will be mailed in waves. Cards for Colorado residents are not scheduled to be mailed until after June 2018. It is likely that Colorado beneficiaries will not receive their new cards until late 2018 or early 2019.
• Once you receive your new card, shred and/or thoroughly destroy your old card.
• Only provide your new number to doctors, your insurers, pharmacists, health care providers or others who you trust to work with Medicare on your behalf.

If you have any questions about the Medicare card transition, don’t hesitate to contact an AARP Foundation ElderWatch volunteer or visit www.go.medicare.gov/newcard.

AARP Foundation ElderWatch can be reached by calling  800-222-4444 (Denver Metro Area 303-222-4444) or going online.