2018-2019 Medicare New Cards-Florida
From April 2018 to April 2019, Medicare will send new Medicare ID cards to everyone on Medicare.
The new cards will NOT have the Social Security Number as part of the identification for Medicare.
The new cards will have unique, randomly assigned numbers and letters called a Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) which will replace the Social Security based Health Insurance Claim Number (HICN) which is currently used on Medicare ID cards.
The purpose of the new Medicare ID card system is to combat fraud and identity theft.
This will help to protect seniors and others on Medicare from identity thieves who get or share Social Security numbers.
Also, there will be a 21 month transition period in which medical service providers (doctors, hospitals, clinics, labs) will be able to use either the new MBI or the old HICN identification numbers.
The federal government hopes that this change will slow the rate of identity theft among seniors and help to protect seniors from such criminals.
According to the news release about this change, over two million senior citizens per year are victims of identity theft.
Issuance of the new MBI card will not change the Medicare benefits that a senior citizen receives.
“We’re now figuring out the best way to mail the cards,” the agency advised providers. “We’ll keep you posted about critical information so you can be ready to ask your Medicare patients at the time of service if they have a new card with an MBI.”
What will change with New Medicare Card 2018-2019
Under the new system, a randomly generated 11-character Medicare Beneficiary Identifier will replace the SSN-based health claim number on your new Medicare card, but your Medicare benefits will not change.
You will receive information in 2018 letting you know about the new Medicare card, with an explanation of how to use the new card and what to do with your old one.
You can start using your new Medicare card with the new number as soon as you receive it, and there should be a transition period in 2018 and 2019 when you can use either the old card or the new card.
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