New Medicare Cards are Coming

The Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) began mailing new Medicare cards in April 2018 to individuals with Medicare. Cards will be mailed in phases based on geographic locations and other factors. All existing individuals with Medicare will have their card replaced by April 2019. All existing individuals with Medicare will have their card replaced by April 2019. Individuals can get information regarding these mailings by signing up at https://www.medicare.gov/newcard/ to receive emails about the status of cards mailing in their area.

New Medicare cards are being sent in an effort to combat identity theft. The old Health Insurance Claim Numbers (HICNs) will be phased out and replaced with a new Medicare Beneficiary ID (MBI). The MBI is a unique, randomly-assigned number that replaces the current Social Security-based HICN number.

Key Messages from CMS
CMS will include simple, direct instructions with the new card mailings. In addition, CMS has provided the following information for all individuals with Medicare:

  • Make sure your mailing address is up to date. If your address needs to be corrected, contact Social Security at https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount or call 1-800-772-1213. TTY users can call 1-800-325-0778.
  • Beware of anyone who contacts you about your new Medicare card. CMS will never ask you to give them personal or private information to get your new Medicare number and card.
  • Understand that mailing everyone a new card will take some time. Your card might arrive at a different time than your friend’s or neighbor’s.
  • Once you get your new card, destroy your old card and start using your new card right away.

Key Messages from Mutual of Omaha
What your Medicare supplement clients need to know:

  • Policyholders do not need to contact or provide Mutual with their new Medicare number. They should provide their new information to their healthcare provider.
  • Policyholders should continue to use their existing Mutual Medicare supplement ID card.

What you need to know:

  • There will be a transition period for all individuals with Medicare to receive their new card. During this transition Mutual will continue to accept either the new MBI or old HICN number.
  • Our paper applications are now updated showing a picture of the new card and asks for the applicant’s “Medicare Number”. You may input either the MBI or HICN in this field.
  • There is no need to place an order for updated applications until you are in need of new stock. Mutual will continue to accept the old application.
  • The application “Medicare Number” field should only be left blank if your client does not have a Medicare card.

Resources
You can direct your clients to the following site for details:
https://www.medicare.gov/forms-help-and-resources/your-medicare-card.html

If you have questions you can go to:
https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/New-Medicare-card/index.html

Click to view or download a CMS Short Messaging Aid.
 
If you have any questions, please contact Mutual of Omaha’s Sales Support at (800) 693-6083 or email sales.support@mutualofomaha.com.
 

New Medicare Cards are Coming
 
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