Your Medicare card is proof that you have medical coverage under Medicare. It is such an important piece of paper for Medicare beneficiaries that we at Kamm Insurance Group put together the following guide to your Medicare card, when to expect to receive it, and what to do if you lose it.
When you enroll in Medicare, you’ll receive your red, white, and blue Medicare card in the mail. It shows whether you have Part A (listed as hospital), Part B (listed as medical), or both, and the date your coverage began. If you have original Medicare, you’ll show this card when you see a medical provider for services.
If you instead purchase a Medicare Advantage Plan, that plan will send you a separate card and you’ll usually present that one when you received services. However, you may occasionally need your original Medicare card for certain services or if you decide to trade in your Advantage plan for original Medicare later, so don’t throw out that card even if you usually use a Medicare Advantage plan.
We recommend keeping your Medicare card in your wallet so that you have it on hand if you ever need emergency care while away from home. Your Medicare number is not your Social Security number, so generally a thief can’t steal your identity with only your Medicare card. However, you should still make sure to only give it to your medical providers or trusted family members who assist with your care, as your Medicare information can still be used to commit certain types of fraud.
If you lose your Medicare card, or it gets too damaged to use, you can get a replacement by phone or online. To order a replacement card by phone, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). Or you can print an official copy of your card from your secure Medicare account. You can also use your online Medicare account to access your Medicare information anytime, add prescription drugs to help you find and compare health and drug plans in your area, and more.
Our health insurance team at Kamm Insurance Group is happy to help you shop around for Medicare plans and answer any questions you may have about this vital but sometimes complicated program. We’ve partnered with eHealth to allow you to easily compare and enroll in plans online.
Source: https://www.medicare.gov/forms-help-resources/your-medicare-card
