A few months ago, I posted about the new Medicare cards that will begin being mailed in April 2018. The new cards will no longer contain our social security number and will be replaced with what is called a Medicare Beneficiary Number or MBI.

The change is part of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) which requires CMS to remove Social Security numbers from Medicare cards by April 2019. As stated above CMS will begin mailing the new cards in April 2018.

Watch out for Medicare Scams

Scam artist may try to contact you to get your current Medicare number and other personal information. They may claim to represent Medicare and use various scams to get your current Medicare number.

• They may ask you to confirm your Social Security or Medicare number so they can send you a new card.

• Another scam is telling you there is a charge for your new card and they want to verify your personal information.

• They are also pretending that they can cancel your Medicare Benefits if you do not give them your Medicare number.

If anyone calls you and asks for your Medicare number, bank account number or any other personal information hang up and call Medicare at 1-800-Medicare (1-800-633-4227). Medicare or Social Security will never call you and Medicare will never ask for your Medicare Number or bank account information.

Things You Need to Know About the New Medicare Cards

• You do not need to take any action to receive your new Medicare card. Your new card will be mailed to you between April 2018 and April 2019.

• Medicare will never ask for your private information to get your new Medicare number and card.

• Your new card will not change your Medicare coverage or benefits.

• There is no charge for your new card.

Please share this information with your friends and to stay aware of the latest Medicare news and possible Medicare scams check my website at https://yourmedicareguy.com/ or like my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/%20GrandValleySeniorBenefits/

Click here to learn more about how to protect your Medicare card.

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