Connect with Your Medicare Clients
As a reminder, The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) are removing the Social Security Number (SSN)-based Health Insurance Claim Number (HICN) from Medicare ID cards to help prevent fraud and fight identity theft. Although this change will have little impact on agents, we want to help you ensure your beneficiaries have a smooth transition using new Medicare numbers.
It’s a change that impacts all Medicare beneficiaries, which is a rare opportunity for you to reconnect with those clients, offer your expertise, and help them re-evaluate their coverage needs.
Here are ten things to make sure your beneficiaries know about their new Medicare card:
- Their card may arrive at a different time than their friends or neighbors.
- Once they receive their new Medicare card, destroy their old Medicare card and start using the new card right away.
- They should only give their new Medicare number to doctors, pharmacists, other healthcare providers, insurers, or people they trust to work with Medicare on their behalf. Remind them to never give their number over the phone.
- Their card number is unique, it is no longer their Social Security number. This is to help prevent identity theft and fraud.
- The new card is paper and if they lose their card at any time, they can easily print a replacement card.
- Advise your beneficiaries to carry their new card and to show it to their health care providers when they need care.
- Doctors and other healthcare facilities and providers will ask for the new Medicare card when they need care. They all know the new card has been issued and will be arriving soon!
- If they forget their new card, they (or their doctor, another provider, etc.) can look up their Medicare Number online.
- Keep their Medicare Advantage card! If your client is enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan (like an HMO or PPO), their Medicare Advantage Plan ID Card is their main card for Medicare. They should still keep and use it whenever they need care. However, they also may be asked to show their new Medicare card.
- If they don’t get their new Medicare card by April 2019, call 1-800-MEDICARE, or TTY 877-486-2048.
