New Medicare cards should have arrived

Philadelphia Inquirer

Now that Medicare has completed mailing its new card to people 65 or older in Pennsylvania and Delaware, folks who haven’t gotten one should call the agency to make sure one arrives.

The federal program has set out to blanket the nation with the new cards by April 2019. Under the schedule for the rollout — the mailings began in April — everyone in Pennsylvania and Delaware should have received their cards in the mail.

If not, “you should call Medicare immediately,” said Nan Rosner, an insurance agent with Rosner & Associates, based in Elkins Park.

New cards have a Medicare ID unique to you, instead of your Social Security number. Your new card should automatically come to you — just make sure the agency has your up-to-date address. Keep the old card Should you destroy your old card? Probably not yet — as your health-care providers may request that you keep it so they can update their files.

“Insurance companies, hospitals, and doctor’s offices will probably have to update their computer systems to retain both the old and new Medicare ID numbers thru Dec. 31, 2019, because old numbers may be valid until then,” said David Zalles, a Blue Bell-based accountant. 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 may be asked to show your new Medicare card, so carry this card, too.

If you don’t get your new Medicare card, or if you have other questions about Medicare, call as soon as possible.

Ms. Rosner, who helps her insurance clients navigate Medicare and other policies, as of two weeks ago hadn’t received her new Medicare card in the mail, so as a Pennsylvanian, she called Medicare. (New Jersey hasn’t yet finished mailing.)

“They told me they couldn’t verify my mailing address through the post office, although I’ve lived in the same house for 41 years,” Ms. Rosner said. “That was a little concerning.”.

For more information, visit the website www.medicare.gov/newcard or call the agency directly at 1-800-MEDICARE (633-4227) or 1-877-486-2048 for TTY users.

Avoid Medicare scams

If someone calls and asks you for your Medicare information, for money, or threatens to cancel your health benefits if you don’t share your personal information, hang up and call 1800-MEDICARE (1-800-6334227). It’s a scam.