Your new card will have a new Medicare Number that's unique to you, instead of your Social Security Number. This will help to protect your identity.
3 things to know
- Your new card will automatically come to you. You don't need to do anything as long as your address is up to date. If you need to update your address, visit your My Social Security account.
- Once you get your new Medicare card, destroy your old Medicare card and start using your new card right away.
Your new Medicare Number is a unique combination of numbers and letters. Your new number uses numbers 0 thru 9. The letters S, L, O, I, B, and Z are never used.
Medicare will never call you uninvited and ask you to give us personal or private information to get your new Medicare Number and card.
Scam artists may try to get personal information (like your current Medicare Number) by contacting you about your new card.
If someone asks you for your information, for money, or threatens to cancel your health benefits if you don't share your personal information, hang up and call us at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).