topic Re: New Medicare Cards! in Community Chat

New Medicare Cards!

Annabellethecat66 — Thu, 06 Sep 2018 23:31:53 GMT

I've been going through medicare hell. Yes, there is such a place as far as I'm concerned!

So a week ago (after constantly getting asked by Drs for my NEW card) I decided to call Medicare to find out where mine was.

I texted my insurance agent and he said all of the cards had been sent out in Va. Hummm??? Interesting. He texted me the phone number to call, so I did.

I found out that my card had never been sent....I was 'skipped' over. So, she took all of my information (to verify I was the right person). Then she said she would 'expedite' it.....

Well, today while in my car on my way to lunch it rings through from my cell phone. It was an 800 number and she talked like she knew what she was talking about. She said she didn't have all of the information and bla bla. Normally I NEVER give out any information. I'm so paranoid, you have no idea.

But I was in my car and the new looked familiar to one I'd called (Medicare).

Then while eating with my friend she said, "They never call you, this is fake" (I'll address that in a few minutes).

So, after we ate I sat in my car and called the Medicare people AGAIN. She once again took down the information and said nothing had been done about it and I'd get my card within maybe 4 weeks. She advised me to call the FCC and report the bogus call.

So, I called the FCC (please note this was the second time I'd called them in less than a week to report a bogus 800 number).

I said, (this is almost quotes word for word), me: "You're probably going to think I'm crazy but I swear I think my phone(s) have been hacked". She said, "No mam I don't. It's a real possibility".

I went by my banks and talked to them and they said not to worry and put notes on everything.

My daughters called my other investments and notified them. Tomorrow I will call the credit companies. I don't own any credit cards so that's not a problem and if my or my late husband's SSN is used anywhere a flag will go up.

Now here's something else that's interesting. While you never hear the government or social security or medicare will ever call you....that's not true.

I was told that I would get a call from someone from Medicare and they asked me what time I wanted them to call me (gave me a range) and bla bla.

I've spoken to a few people and I've met 2 other people who told me they received calls from social security, one from medicare. So it does happen.

So this is interesting. I STILL have no idea if I'm ever going to this new card. This is absolutely crazy.

So people who are so anxious to get the government to take over more of our lives....think carefully about that because as my grandma used to say, "The left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing".

Yes, the phone numbers I've been calling are the correct numbers, I thought about that.

Oh! I almost forgot I looked at my phone where it says recent calls and the number called me was actually the medicare number. Now figure that one out.

I have to wonder if they've hacked medicare or something. I have no idea but the whole thing is crazy!

Re: New Medicare Cards!

FrostyBabe1 — Thu, 06 Sep 2018 23:38:46 GMT

I'm nowhere near eligible for Medicare and have gotten a similar call. I think you were merely scammed by someone using a robo dialer and the rest is just coincedence. They're just fishing for that 1 out of 1000 people that will fall for it and give out their personal info.

Re: New Medicare Cards!

fthunt — Thu, 06 Sep 2018 23:40:02 GMT

Why are your doctors in such a fuss over not having the new card? He obviously knows you and your age and knows you qualify. Old card works just like the new one - one minor change - a new digit number instead of your social security #. What's the problem?

Re: New Medicare Cards!

tipsy — Thu, 06 Sep 2018 23:40:03 GMT

@Annabellethecat66 reminds me of the infamous 9 most terrifying words in the English language "I'm from the government and I'm here to help"

Re: New Medicare Cards!

bonnielu — Thu, 06 Sep 2018 23:40:19 GMT

I don't know where you live but is there a local office there for Medicare. I seem to remember a few years back we went to check on some benefits and we took our turn in line to actually talk to someone. I am not in a big city (in Maryland) so if we have it you might also.

Re: New Medicare Cards!

Diva on The Q — Thu, 06 Sep 2018 23:49:50 GMT

@fthunt wrote:
Why are your doctors in such a fuss over not having the new card? He obviously knows you and your age and knows you qualify. Old card works just like the new one - one minor change - a new digit number instead of your social security #. What's the problem?

I was wondering the same thing.

Re: New Medicare Cards!

Annabellethecat66 — Thu, 06 Sep 2018 23:53:21 GMT

The Dr's aren't in a 'fuss' over it. They just ask me if I've received the new card yet. As it happens one particular Dr I go to every 3 weeks.

Most of the other Drs (as with many people) I only go every few months.

Most of the staffs in Drs offices have a pretty good general idea on when most of the cards have been mailed out.

THAT'S probably why they ask when I see them.

Re: New Medicare Cards!

Shawnie — Thu, 06 Sep 2018 23:58:00 GMT

@Annabellethecat66 Not clear to me why you think "they" can get into your bank or investment accounts. Or why your insurance agent was asked for anything. For the future for most things Medicare, or any other government agency related just go to their websites. How would they have gotten your cell phone anyway? Did you give it to them?? Just stop talking to anyone on the,phone that you do not know.

Re: New Medicare Cards!

Annabellethecat66 — Fri, 07 Sep 2018 00:13:49 GMT

"they" would be whomever (if it was illegal) called me asking for my information for a nefarious reason.

Did you not read what I posted? It's easy to get people's cell phone number. Are you kidding me?

Are you telling me you've never had a bogus call on your cell phone? If not, well that's great because I have many times. Most of the people I know have gotten bogus calls.

I'm not QUITE that stupid to give out my cell phone other than to people I want to get it.

Look, do you not know that for $9.99 I can find out all kinds of things about you. If I wanted to add more money to that $9.99 I could really delve into your life.

That's the world we live in these days!

Re: New Medicare Cards!

I am still oxox — Fri, 07 Sep 2018 00:45:23 GMT

I have no robo call on my cell phone and all unwanted calls go into outer space

Re: New Medicare Cards!

Daysdee — Fri, 07 Sep 2018 00:57:13 GMT

I was asked by receptionist in my primary care doctor's office if had my new card about a month ago and I had not received it. It arrived within a week or so after. Too bad our original cards had our SS# because all the doctors, dentists, hospitals, labs, etc. already have those numbers and they have a large turnover in employees. Some time back I received calls from Medicare, but don't know if it was a scam. I didn't give any information.

Re: New Medicare Cards!

Kachina624 — Fri, 07 Sep 2018 01:08:36 GMT

I have a Medicare Advantage Plan and don't have or use the common Medicare Card. My insurance company issues it's own plastic card. Not everyone will receive the red, white, and blue card.

Re: New Medicare Cards!

Shawnie — Fri, 07 Sep 2018 01:12:23 GMT

Yes I read your post. Nope, I don't give my cell phone to any business, period. And you can't find it online. I have looked. And the landline calls that I don't know are robo calls. If my caller I'd doesn't recognize the number it is not answered, period. So it still remains if you didn't give Medicare your cell phone number why would you talk with whoever it was? Do you think a government employee is going to do an internet search for your cell because you haven't received your new card? Not happening, ever.

Re: New Medicare Cards!

Marp — Fri, 07 Sep 2018 01:55:22 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
I have a Medicare Advantage Plan and don't have or use the common Medicare Card. My insurance company issues it's own plastic card. Not everyone will receive the red, white, and blue card.

I have a Medicare Advantage Plan and received the new Medicare card.

Re: New Medicare Cards!

dooBdoo — Fri, 07 Sep 2018 20:27:57 GMT

I looked on the official Medicare website -- they do not say they never call anyone. They say "Medicare will never call you uninvited" -- @Annabellethecat66, you said your own insurance agent gave you their number, you called and talked with someone at Medicare, so you "invited" them to get back to you. That's how they got your cell number and they called you back from their same official number you called -- sounds like they knew your name, based on your posts, and robocallers don't actually use our names since they're pulling up random numbers. It's also highly unlikely a robocaller would've randomly hit on your phone and spoofed the same number you had called, right after you phoned Medicare and asked them to look into this for you and they expedited it. (As a sidebar, this goes back to the thread about using cell phones while driving, and not having our attention devoted to what's important.)

In reference to having your cell phone hacked, that would mean someone gained access to your phone itself, internally, getting information from it, sometimes even taking over the operation of it or crashing it, that kind of thing. That's totally different from robocalls to a phone. I don't understand the leap to thinking your phone was hacked, or that all of Medicare has been hacked. It sounds like a misunderstanding, to me, in all fairness, and nothing to do with the "government takeover" meme. By the way, I noticed on the Medicare site, too, very prominently displayed, that anyone who wants to can enter their email address to get a notice when their card is being processed and mailed. (source: medicare.gov/newcard/ and medicare.gov/forms-help-and-resources/your-medicare-card.html). I'm sorry you're upset, and hope this will be resolved soon and easily.

Re: New Medicare Cards!

esmerelda — Fri, 07 Sep 2018 03:11:55 GMT

@dooBdoo Good info. 👍

Most of of the rest...good grief. 😏

Re: New Medicare Cards!

RoughDraft — Fri, 07 Sep 2018 03:19:07 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
I have a Medicare Advantage Plan and don't have or use the common Medicare Card. My insurance company issues it's own plastic card. Not everyone will receive the red, white, and blue card.

@Kachina624

I have a separate supplemental insurance and I do present the insurance company's card instead of the MC card. However, I also reeived the new medicare card several months ago.

Re: New Medicare Cards!

Love my grandkids — Fri, 07 Sep 2018 03:24:37 GMT

I wonder if the OP was on her cell while driving?? Hmm...

Re: New Medicare Cards!

Barbara-QVC — Fri, 07 Sep 2018 03:41:22 GMT

This post has been removed by QVC because it is inappropriate.

Re: New Medicare Cards!

shaggygirl — Fri, 07 Sep 2018 11:09:47 GMT

@Marp wrote:
@Kachina624 wrote:
I have a Medicare Advantage Plan and don't have or use the common Medicare Card. My insurance company issues it's own plastic card. Not everyone will receive the red, white, and blue card.
I have a Medicare Advantage Plan and received the new Medicare card.

Same here.