Arizona seniors: Expect a new Medicare card, but don't fall prey to scammers
Stephanie Innes
The federal government says Arizona seniors should be on the alert for scams related to new Medicare cards.
The new cards are red, white and blue and will be arriving in the mail, if they haven't already — all of Arizona's 1.3 million beneficiaries are getting them and mailing began in September, officials with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services say.
Medicare is a government health insurance plan that's generally for people who are are 65 or older, plus certain younger people with disabilities and people with end-stage renal disease. Nearly 700,000 Medicare beneficiaries live in Maricopa County.
Some fraudsters are using the new card mailings to take advantage of seniors, Medicare spokesman Jack Cheevers warned.
The old cards had members' Social Security numbers on them. The new cards have a unique, randomly assigned number called a Medicare Beneficiary Identifier.
Scammers around the country are calling seniors on the phone and telling them the new card will be mailed but as long as they read aloud the number off the old card. That's just a way of tricking seniors into giving out their Social Security number, Cheevers said.
"The Social Security number is basically the master key that unlocks all your personal information and gives the scammer all kinds of information. That is what they are after," Cheevers said.
Social Security numbers are being removed from Medicare cards in order to prevent identity theft and to stop thieves from using Medicare benefits illegally, federal officials say. In other words, that number is valuable, so guard it accordingly.
Here are five steps seniors can take to protect themselves from Medicare scams:
Make sure the Social Security Administration has your correct mailing address
The easiest way to do it is by logging in or creating a new My Social Security account at SSA.gov/myaccount.
Or you can call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213.
Don't forget to shred the old Medicare card
Cheevers advises thoroughly destroying the old card. Don't just throw it in the trash, as that's another way for thieves to get Social Security numbers, Cut it up in to pieces, or shred it as though it's an old credit card.
And be sure to guard your the new card, he says.
"Treat your new Medicare number like you treat your Social Security or credit card numbers," Cheevers said.
People don’t need to worry about their Medicare benefits, because they won’t change at all with the new cards, Cheevers said.
Arizonans who have Medicare Advantage plans will be receiving new cards, too.
The primary identification they need to get care is the ID card from their Medicare Advantage plan, but it's a good idea to carry both cards, Medicare officials say, as that's what some providers require.
Beware of anyone who asks for your new or old Medicare number, personal information, or to pay a fee for your new card
Some scammers are able to manipulate Caller ID and make it look like they are calling from the government when they aren't.
Medicare will never call you uninvited and ask for your personal or private information to get your new Medicare card. Also, the new card is free. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise
Only give your new Medicare number to doctors, pharmacists, insurers, or other people you trust. .
Some scammers are calling seniors and telling them they need to pay a fee to get the new Medicare card. They are lying, Cheevers said.
Scammers are using the mail, too
In Tucson, some seniors are being targeted with a letter that looks official, as though it's from Medicare. It tells seniors to call a phone number on it in order to get the new Medicare card, but it's a scam, said Carolyn Cortesi, Medicare coordinator for the Pima Council on Aging.
Cortesi recalls another hoax targeting seniors in Ajo where callers told seniors that for anywhere from $5 to $50 they would qualify for a special "gold" Medicare card.
When in doubt, call 1-800-MEDICARE
If someone asks you for personal information, or for money, or threatens to cancel your health benefits if you don’t share your personal information, hang up and call the federal government at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
And remember the federal government's Medicare website is Medicare.gov — double check for the .gov
Other resources include Senior Medicare Patrol at 1-800-432-4040 and the Medicare fraud tip line at 800-447-8477.
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