New Medicare Cards Issued to 1.3 Million People
Approximately 1.3 million Medicare beneficiaries have been issued new Medicare cards with new ID numbers. This comes following a data security incident involving fraudulent activity and compromised personal information. Medicare sent these new cards with a letter explaining why a new number has been issued. If you were impacted, you should have already received your replacement Medicare card by mail, along with instructions outlining next steps, including destroying your old card.
To avoid any disruptions in coverage or billing, be sure to share your new Medicare card and ID number with your healthcare providers as soon as possible.
Stay Alert for Scams
Unfortunately, scammers may attempt to take advantage of this situation. Keep these important reminders in mind:
- Medicare cards are paper, not plastic
- Medicare cards are free, you will never be charged for a card
- You do not need to activate your card—never share personal information or your Medicare number with anyone who contacts you about “activation”
If you have questions about a new Medicare card or you aren’t sure if mail from Medicare is legitimate, call Medicare directly at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
General Medicare Questions? Call PA MEDI
Beneficiaries seeking help understanding or comparing Medicare options can turn to PA MEDI (Pennsylvania Medicare Education and Decision Insight) for free, unbiased Medicare counseling.
PA MEDI’s statewide helpline is available at 1-800-783-7067. Additional information, including local events and contact details, can be found on the PA MEDI website.
