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How Do I Get a New Medicare Card?

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Contributing expert: Kelly Blackwell, Certified Senior Advisor®
Updated: March 02, 2022


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Kelly Blackwell
Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)®
Kelly Blackwell
Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)®

Kelly Blackwell is a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)®. She has been a healthcare professional for over 30 years, with experience working as a bedside nurse and as a Clinical Manager. She has a passion for educating, assisting and advising seniors throughout the healthcare process.

Your Medicare card shows your name, a unique number, and your hospital (Part A) and medical (Part B) coverage and start dates. If you’ve lost your card, you could have trouble getting services from health care providers – and put yourself at risk of Medicare fraud. You can get a replacement Medicare card by logging in to your Social Security or Medicare account or calling for help.

What To Know About Your Medicare Card

Medicare will send your card in the mail along with your Welcome to Medicare packet. Click here to see a sample of the red, white, and blue Medicare card.
If you have Original Medicare, show your Medicare card to your health care providers when you receive services. If you have Medicare Advantage, use your plan’s card to get services, but keep your Medicare card in a safe place in case you go back to Original Medicare later.
It’s a good idea to create personal, secure online accounts with both Social Security and Medicare. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service (CMS) manages the Medicare program, which provides health coverage. The Social Security Administration (SSA) manages Social Security which provides financial and disability assistance. The two programs are related. Log into Social Security for a replacement Medicare card or Medicare.gov to print a new card.
Medicare fraud is a real threat. Treat your Medicare number and card as you would a credit card, and only share your number with trusted providers.

How To Replace Your Medicare Card

How do you replace your original Medicare card? If your Original Medicare card has been lost, stolen, or destroyed, request a replacement from Social Security through your mySocial Security.com account. Your card will come to you in the mail in about a month. If you need your Medicare number or need a copy of your card sooner, log into your account at MyMedicare.gov. You can view and print your card from there.
How do you replace your Medicare Advantage card? When you join a Medicare Advantage plan, which a Medicare-approved private insurance company administers, you will receive a member ID card from the insurance provider. Contact your plan if you need to replace that card because it is lost, destroyed, or stolen. The customer service department will let you know how to obtain a replacement card based on the company’s protocols. If you don’t have your plan’s phone number, you can search for contact information by logging into your Medicare account. You can also call Medicare at (800) MEDICARE (800) 633-4227. TTY: (877) 486-2048.
How do you replace your Medicare Part D card? When you purchase Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage (Part D), you will receive a separate member ID card. If you need to replace that card, contact your plan’s member service department. If you don’t have your plan’s phone number, you can search for contact information by logging into your Medicare account. Alternatively, you can call Medicare at (800) MEDICARE (800) 633-4227). TTY: (877) 486-2048.
How do you replace your Medicare card during an emergency or natural disaster? If your card is lost or destroyed during an emergency or natural disaster, log into your secure Medicare account to print or request a new card. If you are displaced and change your address temporarily or permanently, log in or create a personal account at mySocialSecurity.com. Call Social Security at (800) 772-1213 or TTY at (800) 325-0778 if you prefer.
Can you print a new Medicare card online? Yes, you can. If you haven’t already done so, create a secure account on Medicare.gov. Log in, follow the prompts, and either print your Original Medicare card or request one be sent to you by mail. For security purposes, you will be asked to type in your password before you can view and print your card.

If the information on your Medicare card has changed because your Medicare number, coverage, or name has changed, you will receive a letter from Medicare along with a new card. In this case, destroy your old card and start using the new one immediately. Make sure you keep your other health care ID cards for Medicare Advantage and Part D if you have them.

How Do You Avoid Medicare Fraud From a Lost or Stolen Card?

Medicare fraud happens when false claims or misrepresentations of fact result in a federal health care payment that should not have occurred. If your Medicare card is lost or stolen, someone may try to commit fraud by submitting a claim with your information to get paid for services that were never provided. The best ways to avoid fraud from a lost or stolen card are:

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