A decision earlier this year by Medicare to stop using its beneficiaries' Social Security numbers as account numbers has not gone unnoticed by scammers. The comments posted on this blog become part of the public domain. She also writes the Medicare Made Easy column for theAARP Bulletin. } else { //English or undefined language In the meantime, please feel free You can print an official copy of your card from your No CMS systems were breached, and no Medicare claims data were involved, according to the announcement. Also in 2022, Medicare will pay for mental health visits outside of the rules governing the pandemic. again. "We continue to assess the impact of the breach involving the subcontractor, facilitate support to individuals potentially affected by the incident, and will take all necessary actions needed to safeguard the information entrusted to CMS," Brooks-LaSure said. // If you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan (like an HMO, PPO, or PFFS), you will not use the red, white, and blue card when you go to the doctor or hospital. Health Minister Mark Butler has confirmed the government is now examining whether new Medicare cards will need to be issued to protect the customers against identity fraud. There are several ways to get a new Medicare card. Why would they need to change identifiers for dead people? else if (languages === "Tagalog") { The private sector also has a big job. Yet this call is exactly that, FRAUD! Women need to understand their Social Security benefitbut thats not all! Social Security beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare have the premium deducted from their monthly check. We wont post comments that include personal information, like Social Security numbers, account numbers, home addresses, and email addresses. Congressmandated a changein 2015. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) officials say this largest-ever dollar increase was necessary because of three factors: The Part B premium increase will be somewhat offset by the 5.9 percent increase in Social Security's annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). document.write(''); It will be a paper card in red, white and blue. However, not everyone enrolled in Medicare is getting Social Security benefits yet, and how much enrollees will end up seeing of the COLA increase will depend on the size of their monthly Social Security benefit. 0000004683 00000 n I can confidently say NO, the caller is not from Medicare and you are NOT getting a new plastic (or metal) Medicare card. The transition to new cards and numbers is ongoing and is scheduled to be completed in December of 2019. document.write('Mga Kahilingan para sa Alternatibong Format'); mission is to deliver Social Security services that meet the changing needs of the public. Who to Contact: Social Security or Medicare? Instead, you will use your Medicare Advantage Plan card, which you should receive in the mail. We don't edit comments to remove objectionable content, so please ensure that your comment contains none of the above. If you dont have a shredder, cut the card up into small pieces, making sure your SSN is obliterated. The purpose of this blog and its comments section is to inform readers about Federal Trade Commission activity, and share information to help them avoid, report, and recover from fraud, scams, and bad business practices. About Mission History Who We Are Administration Accreditation SPH Committees Giving Ethics & In one version of the scam, you get a call and a recorded message that says its Amazon. I am 77 years old and if I wanted to change my Medicare plan I still have enough sence to do it on my own with out a bunch of telemarketers calling me multiple times every day. (If you dont have a MyMedicare.gov account yet, visit MyMedicare.gov to create one.) For more information on how the FTC handles information that we collect, please read our privacy policy. 0000012741 00000 n The 2015 Act requires all federal and private health information systems to be ready to process claims with the new cards by 2018. Does Medicare send out new cards every year? else if (languages === "Korean") { Posted in: Medicare and Medicaid From that point on, you should not need to give medical providers your SSN. Few seniors are going to be able to digest all that information. The appearance of the new cards will be similar to your current card. This is especially true for people who need behavioral health services, and the improvements we are enacting will give people greater access totelehealth and other care deliveryoptions.. endstream endobj 77 0 obj <>/Metadata 11 0 R/Pages 74 0 R/StructTreeRoot 30 0 R/Type/Catalog/ViewerPreferences<>>> endobj 78 0 obj <>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageC]/XObject<>>>/Rotate 0/StructParents 0/Tabs/S/TrimBox[0.0 0.0 612.0 792.0]/Type/Page>> endobj 79 0 obj <>stream The cards will be mailed in seven waves by groups of states over the next year. Yeah, sure. Today's breaking news and more in your inbox. Be prepared for a bit of confusion and for mistakes in the initial months of the change. SHBP (State and Local Government retirees) call: 1-866-234-3129. Got a confidential news tip? Wish these things were true because I get multiple calls a day from both marketers and robocalls trying to push medicare products on me and I have been on Medicare for years. document.write('Alternate Format Requests') This website has been prepared for general information purposes only. They will ask you to verify your Medicare ID #, so you give them the number and they repeat it back to you or say okay. 0 May 17, 2018 Medicare cards were updated in 2018/2019. You can see your Medicare Number and print an official copy of your card. (function($) The personal information that could have been compromised include name, address, date of birth, phone number, Social Security number, Medicare beneficiary identifier, banking information (including routing and account numbers) and Medicare entitlement, enrollment and premium information. } You can print an official copy of your card from your online Medicare account or call 1-800-MEDICARE ( 1-800-633-4227 TTY 1-877-486-2048) to order a replacement card to be sent in the mail. School of Allied Health ProfessionsSchool of DentistrySchool of Graduate StudiesSchool of Medicine School of Nursing, Kevin Bonton, MPH (contact) Immunization Operations Supervisor Louisiana Office of Public Health, Immunization Program Contact dpierc@lsuhsc.edu for registration details REGISTRATION: https://scaetc.unm.edu/scaetc/event/?ER_ID=5794, Registration Begins for Summer Semester Summer Practice Experience Proposals Due. Medicare cards no Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Puerto Rico, Tennessee, Virgin Islands: after June 2018. But keep in mind, this is a moderated blog. There have been reports of telephone scams where the scammer purports to be a Medicare employee. Anyone asking for money or payment of any fee for the new card is a scammer. Javascript must be enabled to use this site. A scammer can use your personal information to file false claims, sign you up for a plan to which you didnt agree, or even, For more information and help reporting Medicare fraud, errors, or abuse, visit, or call 1-877-808-2468. 0000002320 00000 n Please help us improve MI by filling out this short survey. 0000003480 00000 n If you turn 62 in 2022 and claim benefits, your monthly benefit will be reduced by 30% of your full retirement age benefit. We wont post comments that include vulgar messages, personal attacks by name, or offensive terms that target specific people or groups. These cards will replace the current Medicare cards, // End Column 2 Header That transition period ends in December 2019. If successful, these identity thieves can use a beneficiary's information to file false claims, fill prescriptions, or sell it to other bad actors on the dark web. New features include providing certain mental and behavioral health services over the phone. The published schedule is as follows, and as far as I can ascertain, the cards will be mailed in the order listed below: The Government cannot give us a more precise time frame. If you receive a phone call that purports to be from Medicare asking you for money or information, hang up immediately and call Medicare to report the fraud. Medicare doesnt offer chip cards or plastic cards. If you were a little too jolly with your holiday spending, here are some tips to help you pay down your credit card debt. If you belong to a Medicare Advantage plan, continue using your plan card as well as any cards for drug plans you may have. 0000002800 00000 n An agent cant come back to your home without an invitation. WebMedicare beneficiaries find themselves having to request replacement cards on a fairly regular basis. else { //English or undefined language If you have a supplemental insurance plan, like a Medigap, retiree, or union plan, make sure to show that plans card to your doctor or hospital, too, so that they can bill the plan for your out-of-pocket costs. Thank you for your response. Private insurance companies administer, market, and sell Medicare Advantage (MA, Part C) and Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (Part D), so its important to understand your rights and some of the limits on marketing. They cant talk about other Medicare or insurance products that you didnt ask to talk about. When you get that phone call about your Medicare coverage, or someone saying they are calling on behalf of Medicare, my advice is to hang up immediately. The task for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is monumental. The card will come to you in the mail when your state of residence is scheduled. Vonda this comment is useless. ]]>, BL You get a bill from a hospital or medical provider for care that you didnt receive. The truth is, you cant have both a Medigap plan and a Medicare Advantage plan. No special characters will be used. An estimated 41% of adults face health-care debt, ranging from under $500 (16%) to $10,000 or more (12%), according to a new report. 62 0 obj <> endobj xref 62 39 0000000016 00000 n Anyone can access our Frequently Asked Questions. Medicare will automatically mail your new card to the address you have on file with Social Security. How to protect your personal information and privacy, stay safe online, and help your kids do the same. 0000006955 00000 n Your thoughts, ideas, and concerns are welcome, and we encourage comments. All Rights Reserved. In reply to Wish these things were true by Kg65Don't use , In reply to " Take your time to read all by Max. h=m4.fQI!R0KJVI),F00!Rj] // Senior Life Matters is a community based program sponsored by Lutheran Jamestown. Get this delivered to your inbox, and more info about our products and services. These scammers typically reach out by phone and have tried a few different tactics. It may also be is to prevent their social security numbers from being used by criminals. Can a biosimilar reduce the cost of your medication? Agents cant set their own time limits for you to sign up for a plan. ?n`QfO{4Ax A; endstream endobj 71 0 obj <>stream More from Personal Finance:Used car prices are down 3.3% from a year ago63% of Americans living paycheck to paycheckHow health insurance is helping cool inflation. Sign up for free newsletters and get more CNBC delivered to your inbox. This is intended to make the card easier for providers to use and copy. Undoubtedly, mistakes will be made. } 0000018006 00000 n on your car or at home from a company you dont have an appointment with. And again, picking a plan requires expert knowledge of the plans and of your situation. As the new year begins, Congress is still debating several proposals that would change the face of Medicare, including adding a hearing benefit and several proposals to lower the price of prescription drugs, including capping out-of-pocket costs in Part D plans. If you have not received your new ID card and have medical care scheduled early in January of 2022; contact Aetna for instructions on how to access your new member ID. To file a detailed report about a scam, go to. (Income from services you performed as a minister, member of a religious order, or Christian Science practitioner isn't church employee income.) But even if Congress adopts these changes, they wouldn't take effect this year. Request a replacement Medicare card online. Remember: Do not give your Medicare or Social Security numbers or personal data to strangers. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. You can get help comparing Medicare plans from your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). //-->. You had church employee income of $108.28 or more. For questions and concerns or to reach Janell Sluga, GCMC, call 716-720-9797 or email SLM@lutheran-jamestown.org. 0000005261 00000 n If you have Original Medicare, make sure you always bring this card with you when you visit doctors and hospitals so that they can submit bills to Medicare for payment. The second type of call is about switching the insurance coverage you have. LSU School of Public Health Learn about getting and using credit, borrowing money, and managing debt. Call 1-800-633-4227, or 1-800-Medicare. AtMRRT/mk,o,CSXUU. r[HZ6l#)3kP.X6~{! 0000006370 00000 n When they ask Hello is this Janell Sluga? Do NOT answer with yes who is calling? Dont use the affirmative in any way. Behavioral & Community Health Sciences (BCHS), Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences (ENHS), Health Policy & Systems Management (HPSM), Women and Their Childrens Health Study (WaTCH), Tobacco Control Initiative (TCI) Research, Louisiana Cancer Prevention and Control Programs (LCP), Evaluation Committee Student, Faculty & Staff Feedback, Undergraduate Association for Public Health Practice, Final date to submit any course/curriculum changes to Curriculum Committee for the 2023-2024 Academic Year, Monthly Case Manager Training: Immunizations. The hope is the new Medicare cards will eliminate thieves using Medicare cards for identity theft. } If you dont have a myMedicare.gov/ account yet, go to create an account and follow the instructions. Keep in mind 0000006014 00000 n Once you receive your new Medicare card, begin using it right away. We review all comments before they are posted, and we wont post comments that dont comply with our commenting policy. I talked to Brian at FAQ and told him take me off the list. WebYour Medicare card will arrive in the mail in about 30 days at the address on file with Social Security. Be sure to confirm or update your mailing address shown in your personal my Social Security account when submitting your request. The inpatient hospital benefit period costs are rising slightly for 2023. CMS has authorized a transition period when patients can use either card. The caller claims you need to pay a fee to get a new or upgraded Medicare card, Someone threatens to cancel your Medicare coverage unless you provide personal information over the phone. $(document).ready(function() document.write(''); Editors note: This article was updated with new information. They do not belong to or represent views of the Federal Trade Commission. They cant threaten to take away your benefits if you dont sign up for a plan or offer you gifts if you agree to sign up. They cant promise that you can keep your Medigap plan (supplemental plan) when you sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan. 0000001076 00000 n CMS will need to replace Medicare cards for 150 Million beneficiaries 60 Million living beneficiaries and 90 Million deceased. Take your time to read all information and verify details. Even though the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) runs the Medicare program, Social Security takes care of enrolling or disenrolling beneficiaries. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the gaps in our current health care system and the need for new solutions to bring treatments to patients, wherever they are, CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure said in announcing these changes. Then they even may go as far as to talk to you about when you will receive this new Medicare ID card. // Medicare continues to focus more attention ontelehealth, especially during the pandemic. You can still use your old card to get your care covered until January 1, 2020. It is important to act quickly to prevent fraudulent billing to Medicare. Are we getting new Medicare cards? In recent weeks, the FCC has been receiving complaints about scammers calling pretending to be Medicare representatives, often using caller ID spoofing to mask their identity. document.write('Consumer Help Center'); Presumably, the new systems will not identify them without a new number. So, many of us might be looking for alternatives, like buying gifts locally or maybe from online marketplaces or sites you find through your social media accounts, online ads, or by searching Youve opened all your gifts, and now its time to open those post-holiday credit card statements. Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes, and Market Data and Analysis. Find out how to enroll by visitingmedicare.gov. (S3&aE_&4&k1P4Ohp` :QvJ!!jp $8k_iW In the first half of 2022, more than 53 million individuals in the U.S. were affected by data compromises, according to Statista. [CDATA[// >