Anyone eligible for Medicare in Northern CA should have a new Medicare card by now. If you already have your new card make sure to cut up, or preferably shred, the old one and put it in the trash. This way your social security number will not be exposed. If you are eligible for Medicare and have not yet received your new card, you may want to make sure your mailing address is up to date. Call the SSA toll free at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY: 1-800-325-0778) between 7am and 7pm Monday through Friday. You can also provide or update your contact information at ssa.gov/myaccount. My recommendation is to call between 7-8am or between 5-7pm so you don’t have to wait on hold.
BEWARE: Medicare will NEVER call you uninvited to ask for personal or private information. Scam artists may try to get personal information by contacting you about your new card. If someone asks you for your information, for money, or threatens to cancel your health benefits, hang up immediately and do not answer any questions they ask of you. Also, CMS will send the new Medicare card to you automatically. Anyone who contacts you to offer his or her services to help you get this new card is likely trying to steal your information or is part of an identity theft scam. No one should be calling you to help you get this new card. Again, Medicare will never call you unless you have a scheduled appointment with them.
