Your Medicare card is as important as any credit card you carry in your wallet or purse. In many cases, you will need to produce it when you visit healthcare providers to prove you have Medicare coverage before getting treatment.
Here are some important things to know about Medicare cards.
(If you are already aware of how Medicare works, please skip ahead to the next section.)
Medicare is a federal health insurance program administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. People 65 and older and some younger people with qualifying disabilities such as End-Stage Renal Disease and ALS are eligible for benefits.
There are four parts to Medicare.
There are no premium costs for Part A in most cases, but you will be responsible for paying deductibles and co-payments as services are rendered. You'll have to pay a monthly premium for all other parts of Medicare.
There are two primary groups eligible to receive a Medicare card:
Other special situations allow you to start Medicare benefits before turning 65:
If you’re eligible for Part A coverage at no cost, you can enroll in Part B coverage by paying a monthly premium.
Together, Part A and Part B are also referred to as Original Medicare.
If you’re not eligible for Part A at no cost, you can still sign up for Part B if you’re 65 or older and you are a U.S. citizen or a lawfully admitted non-citizen who has lived in the country for at least five years.
If you have Part A and Part B coverage, you can get Medicare Advantage Part C coverage. You will pay a premium for this coverage which kicks in after you have reached coverage limits under Medicare Part A and B
If you have Part A and Part B coverage, you are eligible for Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage. Part D is optional, and you will pay a monthly premium for coverage.
If you are automatically enrolled in Medicare, you will get a Medicare card about three months before your 65th birthday.
If you're not already receiving Medicare benefits or don’t automatically qualify, contact Social Security three months before your 65th birthday. After enrolling, you’ll receive a welcome package that will include your Medicare card.
Also, if you’re not already getting Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits, you can enroll in Medicare during the Initial enrollment period to avoid penalties or gaps in coverage. The Initial Coverage Election Period is seven months beginning three months before the month you turn 65 and ending three months after your 65th birthday.
You'll get a red, white, and blue Medicare card that has your name and your Medicare number. Your card will not show you or your spouse’s Social Security Number to help protect you from identity theft.
Your card will show if you have Medicare Part A, Medicare Part B, or both, and the date your health coverage began.
One other important thing: Your Medicare card is made of paper, not plastic. The switch was made in 2018 because it is easier for providers to copy the card.
When you need healthcare services, your visit will go faster if you produce your Medicare card for billing and front office staff. Just like other insurance identification cards, you will probably be asked for it when you arrive.
Only give your Medicare card to healthcare providers such as doctor’s offices, hospitals, and pharmacies.
If you forget your card, your healthcare provider may be able to look up your Medicare information online. However, it is just easier to make sure you have your card with you as it pertains to the Medicare number.
If you’re in a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C), your Medicare Advantage Plan card is your main card for Medicare, not your Medicare card. Also keep this insurance card with you when you need care.
The same thing applies if you have a standalone drug plan through an insurance company.
Even if you use one of these other cards, you also may be asked to show your Medicare card when visiting a provider.
It’s a good idea to keep a copy of your Medicare card providing access to your information in the case that something happens to the original. If you lose your Medicare card or it gets damaged, you can replace it by contacting the Social Security Administration and giving them your name, Social Security number, and birthdate.
You can also request a replacement Medicare card online using your “my Social Security” account if you have one, are creating a new account when you visit the site. Go to the “Replacement Documents” tab to complete your request.
You can also call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. or you can visit your local Social Security office.
After completing your request, it takes about 30 days to get your new Medicare card in the mail.
Medicare uses the name and mailing address you have on file with Social Security. To change your name, such as when you get married or go through a divorce, follow these instructions. To change your address, visit your online “my Social Security” account.
If you get health insurance through Medicare, you may be eligible for discounts at pharmacies.
However, you may need to ask for a discount because it is unlawful for physicians, pharmacies, and healthcare providers to offer giveaways to entice Medicare patients.
Unfortunately, scams involving Medicare fraud and misuse of the information on your Medicare card are common. Medicare will never call you and ask for your personal information.
However, scam artists will reach out to you by phone, email, or by other means to get you to divulge your private information on your ID cards. They may offer you money, make threats, or even tell you your Medicare benefits are going to be canceled as a way of bullying you into revealing sensitive information.
Under no circumstances should you ever share this information with anyone who contacts you.
Instead, contact Medicare immediately at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) and report this suspicious activity.
Your Medicare card is used to provide services covered under Part A and Part B of Medicare (Original Medicare). Your Medicare Advantage card is used for enhanced services beyond what Part A and Part B cover. Medicare Advantage services could be dental, vision, or other similar services covered based on the plan you enrolled in.
Be sure to present the right card when you are being treated so that the right program can be billed for services.
Medicare Supplement Insurance is known as Medigap, and it helps pay some of the healthcare costs that Medicare does not cover. You cannot have a Medicare Advantage plan and use a Medigap plan to offset expenses such as copayments, deductibles, and coinsurance.
To get a Medigap card, you must have Medicare Part A and Part B. You should show this card every time you get services from a healthcare provider.
Medicaid provides medical insurance for low-income and needy people. It is funded jointly through the federal and state governments and covers children, those who are blind or disabled, the elderly, and others who are eligible to receive assisted income-based payments.
This is separate from the Medicare program and is administered by states according to federal requirements.
If you have questions about your Medicare card, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). You can also log on to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services website or contact your local Social Security office.
DISCLAIMER: Medi-Solutions Insurance Agency, LLC is not affiliated or endorsed with the Social Security Administration or the Federal Medicare Program. Information is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as an offer of insurance, advice, or recommendation. The information provided is not intended as tax, financial, investment, or legal advice. Please consult legal or tax professionals for specific information regarding your individual situation.
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