Coming soon: New Medicare card with new number, no longer your Social Security number

[agate]

Starting in the spring of 2018 people on Medicare will be receiving new Medicare cards with new numbers. If you're reluctant to give out your Social Security number because of the risk of identity theft, Medicare seems to be worried about that possibility too.

Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register...

[Howie]

But really, is this needed? I can't remember ever having to show my Medicare card to anyone. And at what cost, to print them and mail them to everyone in the US.

[agate]

Well, it's a more modern-looking card. My old one is just cardboard and is frayed around the edges. Maybe this one will be made of something more substantial?

I often have to show it at clinics and doctors' offices and labs.

Every time I read something about identity theft, there's always the warning against sharing your Social Security number with anyone--online or anywhere else. Anyone with that number can get access to more information about you quite easily. And yet every time you're asked for your Medicare card, you're sharing that number because it's right on there.

Now it won't be. But since you say you never have to use your card, not to worry. You can just tell the postal carrier "Return to sender" when your new card comes in the mail. But if you ever should need the Medicare card, it just might be useful to have the newer one.

The number looks harder to remember. But you won't have to bother with it, Howie. Others may not be so lucky.

I keep forgetting that that cat Sam is both doctor and nurse in addition to operating a forklift and being a short-order cook.

[Howie]

I called and got a new card last year because it was about falling apart. But I'll accept the new one just to play by the rules......darn rules!

[Catdancer]

I'm happy to get a new one. Mine is frayed and almost unreadable. I have to show it all the time to medical folks, so it gets handled a lot.

[Virginia]

I will be glad to get a new one. Mine has been around awhile.

[Sunshine]

Finally! I couldn’t believe the shoddiness of the thick paper card. And the fact it has my SS# on it! I wanted to laminate it, but someone said not to do it as it I teferee with scanning it...

Now we can go back to refusing to put the SS# on Medical registration forms, just like I always did prior to Medicare.

[agate]

When anyone just has to have my SS#, I get away with entering only the last 4 digits of it. I've always felt uneasy about handing over the Medicare card with my "Social" there as plain as day.

[Jeanie Z]

:) I memorized my SS#. I blacked out all but the last 4 digits on my card and when they need the number I can tell then what it is. Jeanie :)