Hey, New Jersey Medicare beneficiaries. As we mentioned in a previous post, you should soon be receiving your new Medicare cards if you haven’t already.
Here are some things you should know:
Your new card contains a new, eleven-character Medicare Beneficiary Identifier, consisting of both numbers and letters. The new identifier is completely random and is not associated with your social security number.
Besides for an update to the overall design, only your identifier number is changing. Your coverage and benefits, and social security number remain the same.
Beware of scammers asking for money or bank information over the phone. The new cards are free, and Medicare will NEVER call you and ask for your personal information without you asking them to call. If you receive a call from “Medicare” asking for your information or money, or threatening to cancel your healthcare benefits, hang up and call Medicare at 1-800-633-4227.
Your new card will arrive in the regular mail. You can check with Social Security by calling 1-800-772-1213 to make sure your mailing address is up to date. You can also visit your online account at ssa.gov/myaccount. Don’t worry if your neighbor receives their card before you do. Yours is on the way.
Your new card can be used as soon as you receive it. Make sure to destroy your old red, white, and blue Medicare card. Keep any Medigap, Part D, Medicare Advantage or retiree health plan cards—those did not change.
Starting January 1, 2020, only the new card and new identifier can be used. If you forget to bring your card with you, your health care providers can look up the number for you.
Medicare began mailing the cards at the beginning of the month, and they say it can take over a month to mail replacement cards to every beneficiary in the state. If you still haven’t received your new card by September 15, call Medicare’s office at 1-800-633-4227.