March 28, 2024

New Medicare Cards Coming in April

Medicare Cards

New Medicare Cards, issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, are expected to help protect against fraud, and MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital in Leonardtown is helping to publicize the initiative. Instead of the old cards, which had a Social Security-based number, the new cards feature a unique, randomly assigned number.

“We want our patients to know that we are aware of the upcoming change,” said Ann Hawkins, interim director of Patient Access & Security at MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital, “and that we are prepared to help patients navigate through this period of transition.”

Anyone with Medicare benefits should know:

  • Cards will not all be mailed at the same time; they will be sent out in phases.
  • The new card number is unique and should only be given to doctors, insurers, pharmacists, insurers, or other health care providers.
  • The new cards are paper, not plastic, because paper is easier for providers to copy and replacement cards can be printed from home if needed.
  • Doctors and other health providers know that new cards are coming and can look up the new number online if you forget your card.
  • The newly issued card does not replace the Medicare Advantage Plan Card, which is the main card for Medicare and you should still use it if you need care. However, health care providers may also ask for the new Medicare card, so you should carry this card, too.

“CMS is expecting all cards to be distributed by April 2019. During this transition period, providers will be able to use either the SSN-based Medicare number or the new, unique Medicare number,” Ms. Hawkins said.

Visit MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital’s billing site for more information and a link to the Medicare web site.

For more information and one-click access to a full list of resources available at MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital, visit its Leader member page.

Leave A Comment