New Medicare Card

New Medicare Card

Beginning in April 2018, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will start mailing new Medicare cards to all people with Medicare. The roll-out will occur over a several month period based upon the geographic location of the Medicare beneficiary.

You are encouraged to talk with your Medicare patients about this so they are aware of the transition and do not think that this is a “scam”.

• Newly-eligible beneficiaries will get a card with a unique number, regardless of where they live
• Distribution of cards will be randomized by geographic location
• Starting in April, people with Medicare will be able to go to Medicare.gov/newcard to sign up for emails about the card mailing and to check the card mailing status in their state
• People with Medicare should use the new card once they get it, but either the SSN-based or the new random alphanumeric-based numbers can be used through December 2019
• Beginning January 1, 2020 only the new card will be usable

Here is the state-by-state roll out schedule: