New Medicare Cards

millieshops · ‎03-09-2010

Just a reminder that beginning next week Medicare will be issuing new cards with new numbers. The transition will take about a year!

My retirement association just reminded us - Medicare will NOT charge us to issue new cards.

Medicare will NOT call you about the new card.

You don't need to do anything to get your new card (except to wait? I say)

Anyone who calls and asks you to send money to get your new card is SCAMMING you to get your accounts numbers. Do NOT take these calls.

Please be careful.

ALRATIBA · ‎07-15-2016

@millieshops

Wow ... I can replace my 10+ year old worn and wrinkled card!

millieshops · ‎03-09-2010

@ALRATIBA lol -- yes, me, too. WE have no choice - all the cards with our SS on them will automatically be gone and we'll all have new Medicare numbers. AS I understand what I'm reading, our SS will stay as is.

Just remember - the transition will be done over a year's time, you don't have to ask for a new card because it will come automatically but I didn't read how we know just when each of us will see those cards.

Also, no charge - no giving anyone your SS or bank account numbers. Anyone calling you unless you asked them to call is a THIEF!

Maybe by the end of next week, someone will post that they (or their parents?) already got a new card! That's possible.

Vivian · ‎03-11-2010

The stupid, cheapo cards that they have used has been absurd. I covered mine with tape, officially disapproved, in order to preserve the card. If the new cards are durable, I welcome the change.

ALRATIBA · ‎07-15-2016

@millieshops

It doesn't seem that difficult to send out new Medicare cards. Just a matter of sending the database to a vendor who makes cards - if the govt doesn't already have that capability.

But, knowing how "efficient" our govt can be ... your guess is as good as mine when we get the cards.

In the meantime ... our ratty cards will have to suffice.

Shawnie · ‎03-10-2010

I laminated mine, problem solved.

millieshops · ‎03-09-2010

@ALRATIBA I won't even pretend to know how the manufacturing process works, what the costs involved are, etc.

I do know we're talking about millions of cards - everyone who already has a card gets a new one - as well as the millions of updates to the system so that Medicare co-ordinates our new numbers with the old one.

Add to that the new Boomers coming into Medicare who also need this card. What's the total number to be handled each month? A long as I don't have to organize all that, and as long as my doctors continue to take my ratty card (no one has ever refused it), I'm content to wait and see the new card when it arrives.

To tell you the truth, even if they send paper cards again, I just want to live long enough to see this new card become as ratty as my current one. Let's do that!

depglass · ‎03-10-2010

Let's hope they spring for plastic. I'm tired of hearing how expensive this project will be. The idiots never should have used S.S. numbers in the first place. Do you realize how much the total Medicare budget is?

Scooby Doo · ‎03-14-2010

@Shawniewrote:
I laminated mine, problem solved.

SS cards are not supposed to be laminated. It can void the security features built into the card. When I was working in HR and people presented their SS card for identification, it was considered void if laminated. Look at the back of your card, some of them tell you not to laminate. You can put the card in a plastic sheet to protect it, but no lamination.

febe1 · ‎01-22-2012

@Scooby Doowrote:
@Shawniewrote:
I laminated mine, problem solved.
SS cards are not supposed to be laminated. It can void the security features built into the card. When I was working in HR and people presented their SS card for identification, it was considered void if laminated. Look at the back of your card, some of them tell you not to laminate. You can put the card in a plastic sheet to protect it, but no lamination.

Mine is laminated. I don't think many people know this. When I use my card, the person always comments how nice it's laminated and not a wrinkled card.

I hope by now they come out with a thin plastic like my driver's license.