Scam Alert (Again)

This post was originally quite long, I reviewed and shortened it.

Scammers never give up trying to defraud. New U.S. Medicare cards are being sent and the game is on once again. Here's what can happen: scammers call and ask for personal information, money or threaten to cancel health benefits if information isn't provided. 

Never give current Medicare card ID to a caller. It has a Social Security Number (SSN). Ignore such calls and/or hang up — It’s a scam. (You can report calls to Medicare 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).)

Medicare.gov graphic

Like the IRS, Medicare will never call and ask for information or money. The new card is FREE and being mailed; no action is needed. It will have a unique Medicare identifier, not a SSN to protect your identity. It uses numbers 0 thru 9 and letters, excluding S, L, O, I, B, and Z which are never used (excluded for ease of reading it seems).

Medicare.gov graphic

Medicare coverage and benefits will remain the same. New cards will start arriving state by state starting April 2018. Estimates are it'll take a year to mail cards nationwide, ending by April 2019. 

Once a new one is received, completely shred or cut up the old card which has a SSN. Don't toss in recycling or garbage. "Dumpster divers" search there for personal information. 

Hope this info is helpful to some folks.