You can download and print a copy of your Medicare card from your online MyMedicare.gov account. You can also call 800-MEDICARE or visit your local Social Security office to request a replacement card.
If your Medicare card is ever lost or stolen, don’t worry. You can replace your Medicare card online, by phone, or in person.
If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, you also may be able to show an enrollment letter or contact your insurance company to receive a replacement.
Keep reading for detailed instructions on how to get a new Medicare card if the need ever arises.
Fortunately, Medicare officials realize these cards may be lost. You have several options for replacement should you lose your Medicare card. These include:
When you order a replacement Medicare card, the card won’t usually come for about 30 days after you order it. If you don’t receive your Medicare card within that time, it’s important to contact the Medicare office again. It’s possible that your replacement card could be lost or stolen.
Medicare Advantage (Part C) is an alternative to traditional Medicare. With Part C, a private insurance company administers your Medicare policy.
If you have Medicare Advantage, you’ll need to contact your individual insurance company to order a replacement insurance card. Here are some ways you can do this:
You can get in touch with your insurance company via phone to request a new insurance card. Here are the phone numbers for some of the most common Medicare Advantage companies:
You can get in touch with your insurance company by writing a letter to request a new insurance card. Here are the mailing addresses for some of the most common Medicare Advantage companies:
Most insurance companies have an online portal where you can get information on your policy and request a new card.
Even if you don’t have one of these Medicare Advantage plans, you can usually contact your insurance company, reach out to your individual insurance agent, or go to your insurance company’s website to find where you can order a new card.
You can take several steps to obtain prescriptions if you’ve lost your Medicare card and your replacement card has not yet arrived. These include:
A pharmacy may also be able to obtain your Medicare Part D information by contacting Medicare. They may ask for your Medicare number (if you know it) or the last four digits of your Social Security number. They can use this information to find out about your Medicare coverage.
Most insurance companies advise contacting them or visiting their online portal if you lose your Medicare card. Some ways you can obtain the information include:
If, despite your best efforts, you can’t obtain your Medicare information and need to get your prescriptions refilled, you may need to pay for them out-of-pocket.
But save your payment receipts. Once you have your information, you can call your Medicare plan to arrange for reimbursement.
If you’re in an area affected by a natural disaster or another emergency, the rules for how you receive care via Medicare may be suspended. For example, you may not have as strict rules about going to in-network professionals or pharmacies.
If possible, you can obtain an image of your Medicare plan in an emergency by going to MyMedicare.gov and printing a replacement copy. It’s a good idea to go ahead and sign up for an online account now. If there’s an emergency, you’ll already have your login information.
Medicare.gov has a page on how to get care in specific emergencies, including if you need dialysis or cancer treatments.
Keep your Medicare card in a safe place, and be sure to give the card only to healthcare providers, hospital workers, or pharmacists. Officials with Medicare should not call you directly and ask for your Medicare number.
If you aren’t sure whether the person asking for your card is actually with Medicare, you should call 800-MEDICARE and ask if someone from the Medicare office called you.
You can usually print a copy of your Medicare card from the Internet. Setting up an account on MyMedicare.gov can help speed up this process.
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