CMS issuing new Medicare Cards

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services has starting mailing out new Medicare cards to people with Medicare. Your new Medicare card will include a new number unique to you, instead of your current Social Security-based number. This will help to protect you against fraud. Starting this month, people who are enrolling in Medicare for the first time will be among the first in the country to get the new cards. South Carolinians will start receiving their new Medicare cards in June 2018. 

Some Important things to remember:

  1. Starting in April 2018, people who are enrolling in Medicare for the first time will be among the first in the country to receive the new cards.
  2. 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 ssa.gov or call 1-800-772-1213.
  3. Once you get your new Medicare card, destroy your old Medicare card and start using your new card right away.

Watch out for scams

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).