The card comes with a randomly assigned Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) made up of 11 letters and numbers; and no social security number like on current card.

Some differences in the new cards include:

• capital letters and numbers

• The letters B, I, L, O, S and Z will not be used to avoid confusing letters with numbers

• Positions 2, 5, 8 and 9 will always be letters

• No built-in logic

• Each beneficiary will be assigned a unique identifier

The approximately 60 million Medicare beneficiaries will eventually receive the card in the mail. Mailings began in April 2018 and will continue for one year.

What do you or the Medicare beneficiary need to know?

• You don’t have to do anything to get the card. It will be sent to you automatically by mail.

• Make sure Medicare has your current address so your card is delivered on time.

• The card may be in an envelope that looks like junk mail.

• Once you receive the card, destroy your old card and start using your new card right away.

• Don’t worry if your friends have the new card and you don’t. It will take some time to mail all the cards.

• The new card is paper. You may want to laminate it.

• Take the new card with you to your next health care visit.

• If you forget to bring your new card, your health care provider should be able to look up your Medicare ID online.

If you have a Medicare Advantage policy, you must still keep and use the card from this plan. However, keep both cards handy when you visit your doctor.

Beware of scams (as recommended by the American Association of Retired Persons)

• Scams related to the new card are already emerging. Some Medicare beneficiaries report getting calls from scammers telling them they have to pay for the new card and then asking for their Medicare card and checking account numbers. Don’t give any numbers!!

“Anyone who says they’re going to charge you for a card is a scammer,” says Paul Stephens, director of policy and advocacy at the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse in San Diego. “In the case of CMS, they will never need you to tell them what your Medicare card number is because they already know it.”

Identity theft is on the rise among those 65 and older. The Department of Justice has cited a figure of more than 2.6 million cases of identity theft involving the elderly that have occurred in recent years.

Always exercise extreme caution before disclosing any personally identifiable information!