Fraud Alerts/PSAs

New Medicare cards are being mailed nationwide to prevent fraud and identity theft, but seniors should beware of a scam arising from the distribution of these new cards.

In the New Medicare Card Scam, fraudsters call seniors and tell them they must provide their Social Security number or other personal information or make a payment to receive or activate their new Medicare cards. That isn’t true. 

Medicare enrollees should receive their new cards automatically from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The agency began mailing the new cards, which no longer include Social Security numbers, in April and will continue through April 2019.

TIPS: 

• Don’t share your Social Security number, personal information or Medicare number except with legitimate health care and insurance professionals with whom you initiated contact.
• Don’t make any payments to receive or activate your Medicare card.
• If you receive a suspicious call, hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE for any questions about your benefits status.

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