New cards do not use Social Security numbers
Des Moines – Identity theft affects everyone, including Iowans on Medicare. To help protect the identity of Medicare recipients, Medicare is mailing new Medicare cards between April 2018 and April 2019.
“This is a welcome and important change that will affect many Iowans,” Iowa insurance commissioner Doug Ommen said. “We hear often about this issue and SHIIP is here to help be a resource for Iowans with questions during this transition.”
The new Medicare card will no longer have a Social Security number on it. The new Medicare card will instead have a new number that is unique to the beneficiary. Medicare benefits and coverage will stay the same. Only Medicare cards will change.
It is important that Iowans have their correct address on file with the U.S. Social Security Administration to be able to receive the new card. To update or check the address on file, visit https://ssa.gov/myaccount or 1-800-772-1213. TTY users can call 1-800-325-0778. Railroad retirees can contact the Railroad Retirement Board at 877-772-5772.
Mailing 57 million cards takes time. Each person’s new Medicare card may arrive at a different time than the cards of a spouse, friends or neighbors. Persons who don’t receive a new by April 2019 can call 1-800-MEDICARE.
Persons who want more information can visit https://go.Medicare.gov/newcard or call SHIIP (the Iowa Insurance Division’s Senior Health Insurance Information Program) at 800-351-4664 (TTY 800-735-2942). Persons who want to make an appointment with a SHIIP counselor can contact the Greene County Medical Center at 515-386-2114
