MEDICARE SCAM- You Do Not Need to Pay or Give Your Personal Information to Receive Your New Medicare Card

This warning only applies if you are currently eligible for Medicare.
The U.S. Government is sending all citizens who are eligible for Medicare new Medicare cards to reduce the opportunity of identity theft and fraud. The old cards had Social Security Numbers (SSN) printed on them for identification. The new cards will replace the Social Security Number with a unique number printed on them.
This sample shows what the new card will look like:

Scammers have found an opportunity to take your money or your identity while the government tries to protect you. The Washington State Insurance Commissioner’s Office has issued a warning that scammers have been trying the following ploys to take your money or identity:

·         Telling Medicare beneficiaries that they need to pay a charge, between $5 to $400 to receive the new cards

·         Claiming that they need your bank account information to deposit funds into your Medicare account.

·         Claiming that you need to confirm or give your personal information to receive your new card.

·         Claiming that you need to provide your old Medicare card number (this is your SSN) to prevent your insurance from being interrupted while new cards are being mailed out.

Facts:

·         Your do not need to pay for your new card. Medicare will send the card to you automatically. This link, https://www.medicare.gov/newcard/, gives an update on distribution progress and a way to be notified by email when your new card is on its way.

·         You do not need to provide bank account information.

·         You do not need to verify personal information, including SSN, to receive your new card. The card will be mailed to the address that you have on file with Social Security. You can update your address online here https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/?URL=/apps6z/ICOA/coa001.jsp?utm_campaign=20171221updateaddress&utm_content=english&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery, call 1-800-772-1213, or visit your local Social Security office.

·         Medicare coverage and benefits will not be interrupted while Medicare is in the process of mailing your new card to you.

As I mentioned at the beginning, this information only applies to Medicare beneficiaries. However, according to Reuters, 76% of adults 65 and older are not aware that the new Medicare cards will be replacing their old cards or what the key change to the cards will be.
Please pass this information on to anyone you know who is eligible for Medicare coverage so that they can protect themselves from being taken advantage of by scammers.

Office of the Insurance Commissioner Washington State:

 wainsurance.blogspot.com/2018/06/new-medicare-card-scams-hit-nationwide.html

Reuters:

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-column-miller-medicare/new-u-s-medicare-cards-prompt-warnings-about-phone-scams-idUSKBN1JT2FG