New Medicare Card Scams

Medicare Card Scam


Verma Stricklin of Oklahoma City recently received a call stating there was a problem with her Medicare card. The caller claimed someone was using her card and that it was necessary to validate her identity to verify she had the correct insurance plan. They proceeded to ask for her social security number.

Another Medicare beneficiary received a call inquiring if they had received their new card yet. The fraudster volunteered to track the card with the help of the beneficiaries social security number to ascertain it was the correct card. Another caller cited a fee which needed to be paid to expedite the delivery of the new card. These are a few of the many scams which will be proliferated over the next year. Anyone attempting to identify with either of these organizations in an attempt to access your information is a fraud.

With the issuance of new Medicare cards which will no longer display the social security number, scammers have a limited opportunity to exploit accessing this information. Be wary of phone calls or any mail soliciting verification from you. Neither Medicare nor the Social Security Administration will call you. Contact the Attorney General’s office and report any suspicious requests for personal information under the auspices of supplying the new cards.

In Ohio, new cards will be issued after June of this year. The new cards will no longer display anyone’s social security number but be an 11 digit randomly generated number. Over the next year, providers will accept both the old and new cards. If you have any concerns, contact your agent or 1-800-medicare.

ginny calvey

Serving seniors since 1999, Ginny Calvey is a certified licensed Insurance Broker representing all the the major carriers of both health and financial products designed to protect seniors through retirement and beyond. Her mission is service and she strives to not only provide education but explore all the options to which you are entitled. She is featured in My Medicare Question.com and author of "Life's Little Black Book>. Call for a free consultation.

Read More on Senior Page
Volume 9, Issue 4, Posted 3:19 PM, 04.04.2018